Breaking Bread With Benn Grim

Ceschi (Pronounced Chess-Key) Ramos is a New Haven resident and has been one of Connecticut's Hip Hop beacons to the rest of the world for over ten years now. Ceschi and I discuss rap, the music business, politics and the growing climate of racial tension in the hip hop community today. Ceschi also draws some connections between certain hip hop personalities and the Alt-Right. Ceschi dropped his latest album "Sad Fat Luck" last week on Fake Four Inc, you can purchase the album and other merch at fakefourinc.com Ceschi has also begun the sad Fat Luck tour so check his website for tour info. Intro/Outro track is titled "Take it all Back."

Alex Williams is the owner of Blue Earth Compost in Hartford Connecticut. Blue Earth Compost is a food scrap collection service for residents, events and businesses in Connecticut. They will collect your scraps and deliver the finished product back to you 3 times a year all the while making the whole process clean and easy. Alex and I are joined by Know Good Market's own Jeff Deveraux. The three of us discuss the practice and benefits of composting, it's positive environmental impact and the future of renewable energy. Blue Earth Compost recently started an Indiegogo campaign to help repay a $150,000 loan from the Department of Economic and Community Development. The loan was used to purchase a state of the art garbage truck built specifically for compost collection and processing. Intro/Outro instrumental provided by Sammy Marion.  

Harley Carrara and Steve Karp are 2/4 of the Connecticut Hardcore/Punk band FTE or Front Towards Enemy. FTE was active throughout the 90's and played with other CTHC bands such as Hatebreed, Cornerstone, Fastbreak, Fine Line, Mindwar and Line of Fire. Harley, Steve and I talk about the Connecticut Hardcore scene in that era and we reminisce on some stories from that time. FTE has an upcoming show on Saturday January 12th at Cherry Street Station with Dissolve, Intercourse, Conetiquette and Down With Rent. 7pm, $7, 21+. Intro/Outro track is titled "Tough Guy" by FTE. 

Kane Gelaznik is a local multi-instrumentalist who is proficient in various genres of heavy/obscure music. Kane and I discuss music, life, Connecticut Hardcore, his musical projects and other weird and evil shit. Kane and I each share a paranormal story from our youth and then Kane tells us the secret to playing in multiple bands while working on multiple projects. Intro/Outro track: Unholy Vampiric Slaughter Sect - Let Light Give Way To Crimson.

Brett Maddux is an accomplished poet currently residing in Hartford's blooming West End. Brett is also the Author of BLACKBIRD, 4PM, a robust collection of over 50 poems available through whichiswhypress.com Brett and I sit down and discuss his beginnings in the Iowa hardcore/punk scene, our mutual love for our capital city and most importantly, his latest offering to the poetry gods. Brett recites a few poems from the book and in between, we discuss the origin of the poem and his motivation for writing it. For more info visit whichiswhypress.com or @whichiswhypress on Instagram. Intro/Outro music is an untitled instrumental by friend of the podcast, Sammy Marion.  

Paul Thorstenson is a musician, creator, Poughkeepsie native and avid contributor to the Hudson Valley Hardcore scene. Paul and I discuss the roots and beginnings of his band Dissolve, the East Coast hardcore scene, the final days of the iconic venue, The Anthrax and the loving relationship between the HVHC scene and CTHC. Intro/Outro Track is a song off of Dissolve's last 7 inch titled "Human Howitzer."

Amla Mehta is a motivational speaker who at the age of 16 was diagnosed with Gyrate Atrophy. Gyrate Atrophy is a rare genetic eye condition in which the patient gradually loses his or her peripheral vision between the ages of 45 to 60. Only 200 people are diagnosed in the world. Amla speaks to me about her condition, being diagnosed at a young age, her hobbies, her experience as a helper and an empath and the speaking engagements and workshops she provides. For more on Amla and her story visit www.amlainspires.com Intro/Outro music is a instrumental demonstration selected from the catalog of producer Sammy Marrion. 

"Colonial Chris" is a marketing manager for a local greenhouse manufacturer that specializes in building greenhouses for marijuana grows. Chris and I talk medical marijuana, recreational marijuana, the state of Connecticut regarding those two topics, marijuana dispensaries and music. Chris and I switch gears and talk about our history as friends and our mutual love for Deafheaven. Intro/Outro track is a lost song by yours truly recorded about 8 years ago.

Keith Buckley is the frontman for the band Every Time I Die and he is the Author of his newest book, "Watch." I met up with Keith on the back of his bus at (the last) Warped Tour in Hartford CT a couple weeks back. Keith and I talk about the mid 90's hardcore scene, his new book, being a Warped Tour installation, bands today and what it takes to be a cool dad. "Watch" will be released to the public through RareBirdBooks.com this coming September 18th and is currently available for pre-order. Intro/Outro track is titled Broken Bicycle by Tommy Doomsday.

The Hempsteadys are a ska, punk, rockish type of band that cannot be pigeon holed into any single genre. The Hempsteadys are comprised of 12 members but today I sit down with 4 of them, NME the Illest, Cody Freedom, Andrew Carey and John Logan. We talk about the roots and beginnings of The Hempsteadys, the other members of the band, their new video (that drops tomorrow August 1st), and their new album Séance! Séance! out on Telegraph Recording Company. Intro/Outro track is called "Still Life with Woodpecker" which is the name of the bands new video. The album can be streamed at dyingscene.com and can be purchased through thehempsteadys.com. 

Dan Flans and Brian Niederhauser are the gentlemen behind The Sunday Morning Hangover Podcast. I sit down with these two and we discuss podcasting, the format and premise of their show, funny awkward sex stories followed by a hilarious game thought up by Dan and Brian. The Sunday Morning Hangover Podcast is available through iTunes and smhpodcast.libsyn.com. Intro/Outro music is an instrumental demonstration by Chef Ed Jones. 

Aaron Butkus is is the founding father of the influential Connecticut Hardcore band Death Threat and is also a skilled pizza maker working in restaurants such as Roberta's in Brooklyn New York and Little City Pizza in Avon Connecticut. Aaron and I have been friends for close to 20 years and he has been a huge influence on my musical taste and lifestyle from a young age. Aaron and I reminisce back to the days of yorn when we didn't have to much to worry about, our lives as young pot smoking, acid dropping hardcore show goers and working at the Baja Cafe under the legendary Joey Tata. Intro/Outro track was provided my the Career Crooks with their new single "Crook with a Deal."

Andrea Cortez of Tainted LLC, Mallory Mason of the YUP Network and Mike Marques of Arbor Light Studios are three key players in Hartford's thriving and vibrant art scene. I sit down with these three individuals to talk about the pros and cons of the term "Art District", the future of Hartford's beautiful Parkville section and the dangers of gentrification in our fair city. This podcast opens the much needed dialogue to answer the question of, "What do we call Hartford's art community, on a whole, while being inclusive of all!" Intro/Outro music is an instrumental that I never used titled "Shin Kicker" created by my old friend and NASA Nautical researcher, Adam Gates. 

Dimitrios Zaharidis and Chris Parrot are the two men behind the two cocktail bars, Highland Brass Company of Waterbury and Little River Restoratives of Hartford. I sit down with these two local cocktail heros and we chop it up good. We discuss all things cocktails, their influences in the industry, what it takes to stay on top of your cocktail game, the overall bar life and our mutual favorite Greek, John Tsipouras. We had an excellent discussion about the industry so if you would like to see what it's all about and you haven't been yet, I suggest you check out these establishments, even if you don't drink, because they will make you something tasty like they do for me.  

The Resistance is a crew comprised of four young Central Connecticut area Chefs. Xavier Santiago of Trattoria Toscana, Manchester CT, Sean Butler of Francesca's Wine Bar and Bistro, Collinsville CT, Mike Touranjoe of Max Tavern, Springfield MA, and Carlos Perez of 4 Eat and Drink, Farmington CT. These gentlemen walk me through their beginnings as chefs and what they aim to accomplish in the years to come. The Resistance are hosting a dinner on May 29th at Trattoria Toscana in Manchester. The Flower Moon, date hailed as the start of the growing season and rebirth of the crops, sets the inspiration for the evening. Seating is limited and this event will sell out. For tickets call Trattoria Toscana at 860-783-5888. Intro/Outro track is a Instrumental by Sammy Marion titled Sloppy Toppy.   

Roy Riedl is a successful chef, restaurant owner and food truck proprietor. Ray and his lovely wife Heather run el Pollo Guapo and the Mercado food truck. el Pollo Guapo is known for their fresh and new take on rotisserie chicken and Mercado is defined as "Span-ish" tapas. Ray and I discuss what it takes to be an effective boss and team member. Roy and I get into his culinary roots and map out his ascent from line cook to small business owner with one of the tastiest products out there. Intro/Outro track is an instrumental provided by Sammy Marion.

The 2018 Best of Hartford Magazine winners seemed a bit off when I perused the list this year. The deeper I got, the dumber it sounded, (like McDonald's winning best french fries) and I had a couple friends that contacted me and felt the same. On this episode of the podcast I partner up with 3 awesome and influential personalities that pretty much dominate the field in their prospective markets. Sarah McCoy from Story and Soil Coffee, Ben Dubow of Bistro on Main and Heather Riedl of the Mercado food truck and el Pollo Guapo restaurant. Together we dismantled the list, gave kudos to those that deserved, shouted out the forgotten, and had a hearty laugh at the insanely undeserving. Intro/Outro music is a track by Career Crooks titled "Good Luck With That."

Alaska is a Rapper from Brooklyn New York and Elsphinx is a Rapper from Albany. Both of these gentlemen are from the Pig Food Records camp based out of Albany. Alaska has a new album out with our other friend PJ Katz titled "He's the PJ I'm Alaska." We sat down and discussed all things Rap music and prepared ourselves for Alaska's record release party that was to take place that evening. We had many a laugh at the expense of other rappers. Intro/Outro music is a track called "Work" of of Alaska's new album. 

Old Self is a rapper and teacher from Southern Connecticut. Old Self and I try to pinpoint the day we met, we discuss the secret rap FaceBook group that we make jokes in, we talk about music as professionals and being accountable for the youth and we also discuss the threshold of being politically correct in todays ever changing music scene. Old Self has an awesome video out on youtube titled "Word Art" and you can buy his album that drops today here!   https://wearethekarmakids.bandcamp.com/album/word-art-gallery  

Today I joined forces with three of my favorite women from the Connecticut food scene. Kristin Eddy is an accomplished pastry chef that works her culinary magic for such establishments as Millwright's, Cook and the Bear and Porron and Pina. Winter Caplanson is the mastermind, photographer and writer behind Connecticut Food and Farm Magazine. Carrie Carella is the Connecticut Cupcake Queen and founder/owner of Middletown's NoRA Cupcake Company. I sit down with these awesome women to discuss something we do not have in common... and that is being a successful woman! Each one of these women has a firm grip on their profession and I get a glimpse into what it takes to be a respected, professional, business minded woman in todays cutthroat and ever changing food service/restaurant biz. Intro/Outro music is a track titled "12/12/12" and it is a secret song you can only hear if you purchased the "Dry Aged" tape that was released Feb 24th. If you want one send me a smoke signal and wire transfer.