The Power/Less Podcast

Rob Rousseau is a political commentator and podcaster, cohost of The Insurgents podcast as well as host of the daily live show, TRRS.Rob and I discuss the recent extrajudicial murder of Renee Good, a legal observer of ICE, mother, and wife who was gunned down in the morning on January 7th. Rob and I discuss how the reflexive justification of violence has become common whenever ICE or other federal agencies are involved. Empathy is replaced with suspicion, and the victim is posthumously transformed into a threat and labelled a domestic terrorist in order to shield institutions from criticism.In conjunction with this, we discuss the recent kidnapping and abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro as well as his wife, Cilia Flores, amidst a bombing campaign in Caracas, which has resulted in more than 80 people killed, including civilians; how this imperialist violence has been set up for numerous years and multiple US presidential administrations, culminating in the escalation of the Trump administration both domestically and internationally.Follow Rob:twitter.com/robrousseauinstagram.com/robrousseauinsurgentspod.comtwitch.tv/robrousseauFollow and support the podcast:thepowerlesspod.comlinktr.ee/thepowerlesspod

Alec and I sit down to discuss our favorite movies and music of 2025, as well as what was disappointing, what we missed, and more.Follow the podcast:thepowerlesspod.cominstagram.com/thepowerlesspodhttps://bsky.app/profile/thepowerlesspod.com

In this episode, I sit down with Robert Becker of Foxtrot to talk about his new solo project Book of Beart and his upcoming EP Tribulations. We break down the songwriting process behind each track, how the pandemic shaped the record, and what pushed him to finally step out on his own creatively.We also dive into mental health, creative pressure, learning guitar under fire, and how Book of Beart differs from Becker's band, Fauxtrot, while still carrying the same emotional weight. Plus, plenty of side talk about horror movies, Alien, Predator, and guilty pleasure films along the way.https://www.instagram.com/book_of_beart/https://www.youtube.com/@BookofBeart

Dylan Blaha is a progressive candidate for the Democratic primary in the IL-13 congressional district. Blaha and I discuss his political trajectory from his 13 year career in the armed services, running against a pro corporate, pro Israel Democrat incumbent in Nikki Budzinski, why the progressive movement seems to have more teeth this  time around compared to the past few election cycles, and having his security clearance suspended for telling National Guard members to defy unlawful orders.Follow and support Dylan’s candidacy:dylanforillinois.comhttps://www.instagram.com/dylanblahaforcongresshttps://x.com/dylantblahahttps://www.tiktok.com/@dylanblahaforcongressFollow and support the podcast:thepowerlesspod.comlinktr.ee/thepowerlesspodinstagram.com/thepowerlesspodtiktok.com/@thepowerlesspod

pulses. are a four piece post hardcore, genre blending outfit out of Virginia. Kevin Taylor, Caleb Taylor, and Matt Burridge discuss their latest release, a mixtape titled, “pulses. pack, vol. 1.” They discuss why the songs and remixes are bigger than just B sides, and the lyrical and musical background and process of how it all came together. From natural flowing phenomena to the current reality of the world, the release encompasses a lot of topics and even more influences. Follow the band on all socials:@pulsesvapulsesva.comStream and download the “pulses. pack, vol. 1,” on Bandcamp https://pulses.bandcamp.com/album/pulses-pack-vol-1Follow and support the podcast:thepowerlesspod.comlinktr.ee/thepowerlesspod

Fauxtrot is a post hardcore band out of Pennsylvania. Robert, Austin, and Derek sit down with me to break down the background, songwriting, production, lyrics, and influences for their latest song, and what people can expect from the band going forward.Follow Fauxtrot:https://www.facebook.com/FauxtrotBandhttps://www.tiktok.com/@fauxtrot_official https://www.instagram.com/fauxtrot_band/https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@Fauxtrot_Band⁩  follow and support the podcast:thepowerlesspod.com

Ryan Woods is a singer, songwriter, and multi instrumentalist out of Los Angeles, CA. Ryan sits down with me to break down his brand new record, "Godboy," his songwriting process, how lockdowns during COVID changed the way he approached creating music, and the inspirations behind the record.Follow Ryan Woods:https://www.instagram.com/itsryanwoods/https://www.tiktok.com/@itsryanwoodshttps://ryanwoods.bandcamp.com/album/godboyhttps://fearlessrecords.com/releases/godboy/Follow and support the podcast:thepowerlesspod.comlinktr.ee/thepowerlesspod

Molly Rennick is the lead singer and founding member of the modern metal band Living Dead Girl, originally from Ontario. Molly and I discuss how the band’s name came from the day she was born, the roller coaster of auditioning strangers from Craigslist to join her band, and the trajectory of Living Dead Girl from COVID times to now. We take time to break down the band’s sophomore album which ranges from topics of toxicity and lack of critical thinking in the world around us to being a Disney adult to, as the track title indicates, a Succubus. You can find where to follow Living Dead Girl as well as where to purchase their new record atlivingdeadgirl.cahttps://www.instagram.com/livingdeadgirlofficial/https://www.youtube.com/@LIVINGDEADGIRLOFFICIALhttps://www.tiktok.com/@livingdeadgirlofficialFollow and support the podcast:thepowerlesspod.comlinktr.ee/thepowerlesspodSupport independent media telling real stories via Sovereign Media:https://linktr.ee/Sovereign_Media_

In this episode, I sit down with Logan Ragsdale; a powerlifter, former musician, and outspoken leftist from Alabama. We get into the overlap between gym culture and politics, the myth that “lifting makes people fascist,” and why reactionary content online is such an easy grift. We also dive into Logan’s musical background, the influence of political bands, and how class consciousness shows up in unexpected places — even in the Deep South.We talk about growing up in conservative states, the hypocrisy of selective outrage around political violence, and how weightlifting videos online can just as easily be a gateway to solidarity as they can to the far-right pipeline.Follow Logan:https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweighthariyamahttps://www.instagram.com/heavyweighthariyama/Follow and support the podcast:thepowerlesspod.comUse these resources to assist Palestinians in Gaza:https://www.thecut.com/article/how-to-help-gaza-aid-starvation-crisis.htmlceasefiretoday.comhttps://5calls.org/issue/gaza-palestinian-israeli-war/Support Sovereign Media, a new media collective that is broadcasting “Global anti-imperialist stories through a Sovereign lens. Independent journalism for the people, by the people.”https://www.instagram.com/sovereign_media_/

Use these resources to assist Palestinians in Gaza:https://www.thecut.com/article/how-to-help-gaza-aid-starvation-crisis.htmlceasefiretoday.comJune Sternbach is a cohost of the podcasts Kill The Computer and Ill Conceived, as well as the social media editor of The Onion. June and I discuss a wide foray of music from Anamanaguchi and Cocojoey to Coaltar Of The Deepers and what is your name?, the recent shootings of Charlie Kirk and the ICE detainees, how politicians and society struggle to comprehend the mindset of overly online brain poisoned individuals, Elon Musk in the Epstein files, and more.Follow and support June’s podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kill-the-computer/id1647062210https://illconceivedpodcast.com/Follow and support the podcast:thepowerlesspod.comArtists mentioned:Anamanaguchi: anamanaguchi.comThe Taxpayers: thetaxpayersband.comThotcrime:https://thtcrime.bandcamp.com/Coaltar Of The Deepers: https://coaltarofthedeepers.bandcamp.com/Rainer Maria:https://rainermaria.bandcamp.com/Pot Valiant :https://open.spotify.com/artist/0V1GwEs3XfqqAoVdaJwPLEwhat is your name?: https://whatisyourname.bandcamp.com/album/my-name-isWave Break: wavebreakband.com