The Art of Asking Everything

Amanda Palmer presents an intimate conversation with Laura Jane Grace. Recorded March 15, 2019 in Austin, TX. Laura Jane Grace is the founder, lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of the punk rock band Against Me!They’ve come out with 7 studio albums. Grace is one of the first highly visible punk rock musicians to come out as transgender and has become an outspoken advocate for transgender awareness. Her column Mandatory Happinesswas published by Vice for years.  Her autobiography is entitled, "Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout." Her debut solo album “Bought to Rot” was released in 2018. Her new album “Stay Alive” is out now on Polyvinyl Records. We talk about enjoying music as an individual, musicians working in cycles, the relationship between speed and creativity, and punk guilt. @LauraJaneGrace  www.laurajanegracemusic.com Stay Alive:https://www.polyvinylrecords.com/product/stay_alive Bought to Rot:https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/album/bought-rot Against Me!:https://www.againstme.net Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout:https://againstme.myshopify.com/collections/everything/products/laura-jane-grace-tranny-hardcover-book   No ads.No sponsors.No censorship.We are the media. Exclusive content is available to Patrons only. Go to Patreon.Become a member. Get extra stuff. Join the community at amandapalmer.net/podcast

Amanda Palmer presents an intimate conversation with BJ Miller. Recorded May 9th, 2019 in Marin, CA. BJ currently sees patients and families via telehealth through Mettle Health, a company he co-founded with the aim to provide personalized, holistic consultations for any patient or caregiver who needs help navigating the practical, emotional and existential issues that come with serious illness and disability. At the age of 19, BJ was electrocuted and lost 3 of his limbs. This accident led him down a path of studying art history and eventually towards his career of palliative care. His 2015 TED Talk, entitled “What Really Matters at the End of Life” presented BJ’s perspective on death. BJ is also the subject of the 2018 Netflix documentary, “End Game.” His book, “A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death,” was released last year. The Washington Post called it, “a gentle, knowledgeable guide to a fate we all share.” We talked about art history as therapy, living life as an art composition, the relationship between limitations and creativity, making the best of your situation and the allusion of independence. @bjmillermd  @Mettle_Health TED:https://www.ted.com/talks/bj_miller_what_really_matters_at_the_end_of_life?language=nb A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death: www.abgtte.com http://www.mettlehealth.com/ www.thecenterforyingandliving.org No ads.No sponsors.No censorship.We are the media. Exclusive content is available to Patrons only. Go to Patreon.Become a member.Get extra stuff.

Amanda Palmer presents an intimate conversation with Lenny Henry, recorded December 17, 2019 in London. Lenny Henry is one of the most successful British stand-up comedians of all time.  In 1975, at just 17, his career took off when he was a repeat winner on the weekly TV talent show, "New Faces.” He went on to host his own sketch comedy program, "The Lenny Henry Show," starting in 1984. Later, Lenny stared in the 90’s BBC sitcom, “Chef!" Lenny is a founder, front-man and a creative force behind the charity Comic Relief. In this episode we talk about the paradoxes of celebrity and social media, how the internet is a buffet, starting a career in entertainment in Working Mans’ Clubs, using humor as armor against racism, the history of minstrelsy in the UK, making your work the structure of your life, giving your loved ones fair warning when you publish a memoir, the beautiful meld of words and images in comic books, the power of masks and fiction and why giving advice to younger artists is so important.  @LennyHenry https://lennyhenry.net This podcast is 100% fan supported. There are no corporate sponsors or restrictions on speech. No ads.No sponsors.No censorship.We are the media. Exclusive content is available to Patrons only. Go to Patreon.Become a member. Get extra stuff. Join the community at amandapalmer.net/podcast

Amanda Palmer presents an intimate conversation with Elizabeth Lesser. Recorded Aug 14, 2019 in Woodstock, NY. Elizabeth Lesser is an author and healer who co-founded Omega Institute in 1977.She is the author of Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow,Marrow: Love, Loss & What Matters Most, The Seekers Guide: Making Your Life a Spiritual Adventure and, most recently,Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes.In 2008 she helped Oprah Winfrey produce a ten-week online seminar based on Eckhart Tolle’s book, "A New Earth." The webinar has been viewed by over 40 million people worldwide.She has two TED Talks - “Take The Other to Lunch” and “Say Your Truths and Seek them in Others.”In this episode we talk about memoirs, Elizabeth’s books, telling other people’s stories, The Omega Institute, patriarchy and leading an examined life.www.elizabethlesser.orgwww.eomega.org@ElizabethLesser on TwitterTED:https://www.ted.com/speakers/elizabeth_lesserNo ads.No sponsors.No censorship.We are the media.Exclusive content is available to Patrons only.Go to Patreon.Become a member. Get extra stuff.Join the community atamandapalmer.net/podcast 

One day in my early forties I looked around and realized that I occupied a very strange social space: I was good friends with both doctors and porn activists, climate scientists and avant-garde writers and musicians. When I began recording these conversations, I realized that I'd accidentally created what I've always yearned for: an excuse to randomly call up really creative and compassionate people, dispense with the superficial chat, and get to the core heart-to-heart discussion about what's important in this life. Being able to create this podcast using patronage also means that I don't have to answer to a boss, rely on advertisement, or otherwise dilute the content of the conversation. This podcast is produced purely by me and my home-team, for my community, with no added artificial ingredients.No ads.No sponsors.No censorship.We are the media.Exclusive content is available to Patrons only.Go to Patreon.Become a member. Get extra stuffJoin the community at amandapalmer.net/podcast