

100 Words Or Less: The Podcast
Ray Harkins
Host Ray Harkins dives deep with creators of independent culture from musicians, artists and other interesting people to find out what inspires them, how they came to be and many other unexpected places.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 29, 2025 • 1h 6min
Bill Stevenson from Descendents
Few drummers have shaped punk rock’s heartbeat like Bill Stevenson. From pounding the kit for Black Flag to defining melodic hardcore with the Descendents, Bill’s fingerprints are all over the sound and soul of modern punk. Now in his early 60s, he’s as sharp, funny, and relentless as ever — splitting time between drumming, producing at his legendary Colorado studio The Blasting Room, and firing off those famously short, no-nonsense emails that have become part of his lore.In this episode, Bill talks about how it feels to still be chasing perfect takes after decades behind the kit, what it’s like playing massive Descendents gigs after starting out in basements and beach-town garages, and how the band’s documentary Filmage unexpectedly turned his life story into one of punk’s most human tales. He also opens up about what keeps him balanced these days — how his approach to health, caffeine, and the occasional drink has evolved since the early days of late nights and fast food — and why staying connected (even if it’s just through a few curt emails) is his way of keeping life simple.It’s a conversation about endurance, humor, and clarity from one of punk’s most quietly disciplined minds — a guy who’s still out there chasing ALL at 61.Weekly Recommendation Playlist brought to you by Evil GreedApple MusicSpotify Subscribe to the podcast on YouTubeRockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code VINYL (for a limited time only) Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 22, 2025 • 1h 6min
Patrick Cozens from Restraining Order
In this episode, we sit down with Patrick Cozens, frontman of Restraining Order, the Massachusetts/Connecticut hardcore band known for blending classic early ’80s energy with modern urgency. Patrick talks about growing up in the New England scene, how Restraining Order first came together, and the balance between being easygoing offstage and all-out intensity onstage.We dig into how both he and the band have grown over the years—from sweaty DIY shows to playing some of hardcore’s biggest stages—and how the scene itself has shifted since he first got involved. Patrick reflects on the changing spirit of hardcore, the lessons learned through touring, and what personal growth looks like when you’ve spent years living and breathing this music.Weekly Recommendation Playlist brought to you by Evil GreedApple MusicSpotify Subscribe to the podcast on YouTubeRockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWMUSIC (for a limited time only) Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 15, 2025 • 1h 5min
Esden Stafne from Saturdays At Your Place
This episode features a conversation with Esden Stafne, bassist, vocalist, and founding member of saturdays at your place, the Michigan-based band whose blend of Midwest emo, pop sensibility, and raw sincerity has built a passionate following across DIY spaces and beyond.We dig into Esden’s life offstage—the quiet moments between tours, growing up in the Midwest, and how early influences shaped his outlook on art and connection. He talks about balancing humor and honesty in songwriting, the personal growth that comes from being on the road, and the strange, grounding effect of seeing your music resonate with people you’ve never met.It’s an open, reflective conversation with an artist learning how to stay true to himself while everything around him keeps moving faster.Weekly Recommendation Playlist presented by Evil GreedSubscribe to the podcast on YouTubeRockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWMUSIC (for a limited time only) Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 8, 2025 • 1h 4min
Akil Godsey from End It
Akil Godsey of End It joins the show for a conversation that’s equal parts reflection and release. Hailing from Baltimore, End It has built their reputation on unfiltered honesty and chaotic energy — a band that channels the city’s grit into hardcore that’s both feral and deeply human. Akil talks about the cycles of death, debauchery, and the strange internet nostalgia of the MySpace-core era that shaped how he sees connection and identity today. From the band’s early days cutting through the noise with their unapologetic attitude to their place in the modern hardcore scene, Akil brings humor, self-awareness, and a rare willingness to confront the messy parts of living loud.Weekly Recommendation Playlist presented by Evil GreedSubscribe to the podcast on YouTubeRockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWMUSIC (for a limited time only) Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 1, 2025 • 1h 9min
Josh Newton from Shiner
In this episode, I sit down with Josh Newton, a musician whose fingerprints are all over some of the most compelling underground sounds of the past three decades. We trace his path from the fertile Kansas City scene of the ’90s, where Shiner carved out their space alongside the era’s noisy, angular bands, to his wild ride as a bassist in Every Time I Die, one of hardcore’s most unpredictable live acts. Josh shares stories from the early days of playing noisy, experimental music, the transition into heavier and more chaotic environments, and how he’s navigated the balance between passion and profession. It’s a conversation that digs into both the personal and historical layers of a career spent moving between scenes, sounds, and identities—while always keeping the bass as his anchor.Weekly Recommendation Playlist presented by Evil GreedSubscribe to the podcast on YouTubeRockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWMUSIC (for a limited time only) Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 24, 2025 • 1h 16min
Tim McIlrath from Rise Against
HAPPY 13TH ANNIVERSARY TO THE SHOW. On this episode, we sit down with Tim McIlrath of Rise Against to dig into the band’s remarkable longevity and the intentional ways they’ve continued to challenge and inspire listeners over the years. Tim reflects on the band’s history—from their early days in Chicago’s punk and hardcore scene to becoming a globally recognized voice for resistance and change. We talk about his straight edge roots, what it means to keep pushing buttons in a world that often prefers comfort, and how Rise Against continue to evolve without losing sight of their core ethos. Plus, Tim shares insights on the band’s new release, offering a window into where they are headed next.Weekly Recommendation Playlist presented by Evil GreedSubscribe to the podcast on YouTubeRockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWMUSIC (for a limited time only) Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 17, 2025 • 1h 8min
Harper Boyhtari from Greet Death
In this episode, Harper from Greet Death opens up about the deeper currents running through her life and music. She reflects on the impact Blink-182 had on her formative years, not just as a gateway into punk and alternative music, but as a band that showed how vulnerability and humor could coexist. We also explore how Greet Death has often been miscategorized—labeled as shoegaze, doom, slowcore, and more—and what those shifting definitions say about the way audiences consume art. Underneath it all, Harper shares how she thinks about humor within music and life: not as a punchline, but as a subtle lens that shapes how we experience both joy and grief.Weekly Recommendation Playlist presented by Evil GreedSubscribe to the podcast on YouTubeRockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWMUSIC (for a limited time only) Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 10, 2025 • 1h 12min
Garrett Klahn from Texas Is The Reason
We sat down with Garrett Klahn from Texas Is the Reason for a conversation that goes way beyond the band. We talked about growing up in the Buffalo hardcore scene, hanging out at Home of the Hits and why that record store meant so much, and how nostalgia creeps in when you look back on music that shaped your life. Garrett opened up about his early days, the friendships that stuck, and what it feels like to revisit those moments all these years later.Weekly Recommendation Playlist presented by Evil GreedSubscribe to the podcast on YouTubeRockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code SUBURBS (for a limited time only) Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 3, 2025 • 1h 11min
Drew Ringo from Sleepytime Trio
On this episode, I sit down with Drew Ringo from Sleepytime Trio to dig into the stories and experiences that shaped his life in music. We talk about what it was like to grow up around Washington, D.C. in the 1980s, a scene that set the tone for so much of what came later. Drew shares memories from an ambitious five-month tour that pushed the band to its limits and taught them how to survive on the road, and we fast-forward to today as he reflects on what it means to prepare for shows as an adult, balancing the same intensity with a new perspective.It’s a conversation that spans eras, connects the past with the present, and reminds us why this music still matters.Weekly Recommendation Playlist presented by Evil GreedSubscribe to the podcast on YouTubeRockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code SUBURBS (for a limited time only) Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 27, 2025 • 1h 12min
Scott Winegard from Texas Is The Reason
In this episode we sit down with Scott Winegard, bassist of the seminal post-hardcore band Texas Is The Reason. Emerging from New York City’s 90s underground, the band carved out a legacy with their melodic sensibilities, introspective lyrics, and their enduring influence on the emo/post-hardcore movement. Scott reflects on those years with a mix of honesty and humor, touching on memorable stories like the inside joke of “cigarettes make you fight,” navigating the ethos of old school veganism, and the surreal experiences that came with major label interest during the height of the band’s momentum.Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering Texas Is The Reason, this conversation offers a unique window into the culture, choices, and chaos of that era. Weekly Recommendation Playlist presented by Evil GreedSubscribe to the podcast on YouTubeRockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code SUBURBS (for a limited time only) Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


