Hey Smiling Strange

Hey! Come listen to me talk to Nina and Zach from Dari Bay and Robber Robber as we talk about New England, when drugs were cool and SYNERGY. Robber Robber is opening for Modest Mouse right now! Go check them out

Friend of the pod Nathan Tucker of Pontiac Flare and  Strange Ranger, The Philly Music Scene, the sauce in home recording, and the brilliance of Talk Talk.

Special treat with thanks to Fire Talk Records, I have John Ross from Wild Pink to come chat about his new album, cool babysitters, and sitting in front of the tv playing guitar.Wild Pink's new album, Still Coming Down. is out now! Go check it out wherever you get music and go see him on tour. 

I stumbled on Official Electric from watching a youtube video on unique and artistic video games, and I immediately was blown away. I've loved weird and interesting video games and game design in general my whole life. But the feeling of traveling in a strange land is something that, as games got more polished and graphically enhanced, I felt like had been lost. This absolutely nailed something I've been looking for for years, and I was pumped he wanted to come on my podcast and chat!Check out https://officialelectric.com/ and on instagram @off.electric

Indie Underground legend overtonight talks being part of an emerging genre, zoomer nostalgia, the absurdity of the modern internet, and getting music mogged.Check out his music where ever and give a follow at @overtonight_ on instagram and tiktok

Talking about songwriting, new hampshire vs vermont, going to a 30 person rural school, and trying to capture the joy of making music with your friends. Milk St. is Hardcore Soft Rock from New England. Their third record “Good Grief” is out 09/25 with the title track single out on 08/23! Follow @milkstreet on InstagramCheck out Klubhouse.gg if you want to see my fantasy football app

I talk to the guys from 40 Feet Tall about playing with energy, the Portland Oregon Island of Misfit Toys, and what to make of their rising status in the PNW music scene. Honestly my favorite band to see live right now. Come see them play Pickathon this weekend, and follow them wherever (@fortyfeettall)

I talk to Te’Jani (@middlenametj) about using motivation, the eternal battle of shape rotators and wordcels, and being a black man in indie rock. Check out Shirtless wherever you listen to music, like and follow him on social media. Buy a T-shirt. Idk, this was a fun conversation and I want this kid to get the recognition his music deserves. Thank you to How Strange It Is for the intro/outro music. 

Hey Y'all, I've been working for the last 2 years to get this fantasy football game off the ground. It's actually the reason I started posting anything online. Last couple weeks I have had to really focus my efforts on that, and the culmination of that effort is that the app will be launching this season! If you have any interest in checking it out, please go to Klubhouse.gg and sign up.That being said, I've had to use Smiling Strange to promote the app more these last couple weeks, if I didn't I would have regretted it.BUT, that means after this week I can go back to having this podcast/page etc be what it was originally intended to be: a place for me to talk about whatever I find interesting.Thank you all for everyone that's signed up! I hope you enjoy this episode even if you don't like fantasy sports, and I'll post another regular episode later this week to make up for it. Regular posting and podcasts to resume next week!

Author and tiktok book influencer Evan Leikam comes on the podcast and, honestly, we mostly just talk about music. About the effect of playing in a band, trying to make a career out of it, and how to use the information you learn from that process in other parts of your life. Evan is the author of Anji Kills a King, please go read it out if you like fantasy books. Check him out at book_reviews_kill on tiktok and instagram. Please sign up at Klubhouse.gg

Man this was a fun conversation with Brandon Martin of VHS Ghost. We talked about making music during covid, the struggle to bring a successful streaming band into a live show, and dealing with some heavy stuff in life through art. Please check out his music wherever you get music, and follow him @vhs.ghost__on instagram.Also please check out Klubhouse.gg to play my mario kart inspired fantasy football app

Hey so I made it to 15k followers! That's really cool for me. That's just on instagram too. I've got another 6k on tiktok which is also wild. Honestly all of this has been wild.I wanted to make a podcast where I just get out all my ideas on where I'm at, what I want to do, and what I plan on doing next. Solo pods are HARD. But I think I did a good job on this one. Thank you so so so much for all your support. Been a really crazy 6 months for me and I just cannot stress how much I appreciate this journey.If you like anything I have done and want to support me in ANY way, please sign up to play at KLUBHOUSE.GG

Please sign up to play my fantasy football game at klubhouse.ggMat Cothran of Coma Cinema and Elvis Depressedly joins the podcast to talk about conspiracy theories, Nintendo 64, and keeping music authentic even when it becomes your job. Mat’s a cool guy, I hadn’t met him before we played a show together and even then I didn’t get to talk to him all that much (I was filling in in that band and was grinding away at the songs like it was homework I forgot to do before class.) But really enjoyed this conversation and I feel like I got to know him pretty well just kind of chatting through whatever.I went a bit longer on this one, mostly because I was having a good time, but also I feel like it’s a better flow to the conversation. Let me know if y’all like the longer episodes.Check out Coma Cinema and Elvis Depressedly wherever you get music, and follow Mat @summertimeinhell on instagramThank you to How Strange It Is (@howstrang_it_is) for the music

I'm joined today by Blake Kasemeier of Blake of Today, where we talk about his history as a touring Hardcore musician, relating to Garden State throughout your life, trying to find authenticity in short form videos, and at the end we workshop a video take. Please check out Klubhouse.gg and sign up to play my fantasy football app, thank you for listening!

This is a very special episode featuring my Mom! I wanted to bring her on the podcast to follow up my Serial podcast because she was one of the first people that really had me see through some of the stuff the podcast was doing that created doubt in this case. And also because I think my Mom is wildly entertaining (ask anyone that was at my wedding reception, she stole the show!)Anyway, this is going to be my last podcast on Serial sadly. I think I've said everything I ever have to say on this lol. But thank you all for your support, and please check out Klubhouse.gg if you want to support me. 

Evan Cohen (@evanmcohen) joins the podcast to talk about his viral artwork, creating band posters, making a living off art, and the danger  of AI slop in the artworld. I’ve known Evan for years through a mutual friend, we met when we were in college, and I’ve been following his career ever since. It has brought me a tremendous amount of hipster joy to point to a poster of his artwork hanging at a friend’s house and I get to say “oh is that Evan Cohen? Cool guy. I knew him back in college” and then I get to be all self satisfied and arrogant for a while. It’s the best.But I am not kidding that he is a genuinely cool guy and great person, and was very happy when he agreed to be on the podcast!Music by How Strange It Is, brought to you by Klubhouse Fantasy Sports

So I've been asked to make a podcast episode about the 2014 podcast Serial, that covers the case of the Murder of Hae Min Lee. To start, this isn't a podcast about who did it. Adnan did it. I'm pretty well convinced, like the jury, that there is more than reasonable evidence that it was him.Instead these podcast episodes are going to be a deep dive into Serial, and Sarah Koenig, and how the podcast itself creates doubt for the listener where there really shouldn't be any. I wanted to make the videos I made to point out that even if someone says they are objective, that they claim neutrality, their actions can still be wildly biased. And, more specifically, that if you fail to be neutral in your reporting, but claim neutrality, there should be at least some accountability.Ultimately the story of Serial is the death of a young girl. All the entertainment derived from that act still has consequences against those most hurt by this murder. I will do an episode by episode breakdown if there's interest in it.

Hey you guys wanted me to review and share my thoughts on the movie The Backrooms, right? You want to hear me say the word Zoomer a lot, right? Anyway I'm joined by Tim Howe of Vista House to discuss our thoughts on The Backrooms, the sudden end of the Millenial in culture, and the fact that Tim has almost certainly been possessed by a ghost at one point in his life. Brought to you by Klubhouse Fantasy Football, check it out at Klubhouse.fun

Scott Korb and Tyler Pell from Tennis Courterly talk about Tennis City USA, creating community through DIY sports, independent publications, and the upcoming Mt. Tabor Open.I played in the Mt. Tabor Open last year and it was a ton of fun, that's why I reached out to see if these guys wanted to come on the podcast and try to find more interested potential players.Follow @tenniscourterly on instagram for more details!

This was a special one for me, as Idaho was my Most Listened to Band of 2025, and I've been a fan of Jeff's music for years. A wildly underrated band that's starting to get some of their much deserved recognition in the 2020s after forming in 1992.We talk LA, working professionally creating background music for film, and the magic of imperfect recordings.Check out Idaho where ever you get music and @idahoband on Instagram.

I have on Dishing and Swishing co-host Jesse Wims to discuss the OKC-Spurs series, how Wemby could break the game of basketball, and how to fix tanking with reality television.

Hudson Freeman (@thehuddog on instagram) joins Kyle to chat about his life after the success of his viral song If You Know Me. We talk about the world of short form content creation, dealing with the backlash of Geese Bot Allegations, and the philosophy of Teddy Adorno.

So new thing for the Podcast. The regular Hey Smiling Strange interview podcasts will be up on Wednesdays from now on, but I'm adding a second podcast during the week. Early access will be on Youtube as a video podcast, then monday as the audio version.These podcast will be a bit more experimental until I find a format that works for them. I like trying things out, and for this one I just went on a walk and talked to my brother, Evan (@perchanches on Twitter). So here it is, Uncslop ep. 1!Kyle (Smiling Strange) and Evan (Chanch, brother) talk about Pete and Pete, a deep dive into the fascinating world of conspiracy theories and the evolving perception of China in global politics! In this episode of the Hey Smiling Strange podcast, we explore how the internet has transformed our understanding of China, the impact of COVID-19 on global perspectives, and the importance of infrastructure in shaping societies.

Did you guys know my most listened to song on Spotify, all time, is Bastard by Little Kid? I've been looking forward to this conversation for a long time, Little Kid has been one of my favorite bands for a while now but remain mostly unknown. Please go check out any of their albums, my favorite is probably Flowers which has been on rotation for years in my house.Kenny talks about the the Toronto music scene, creating diy and lofi music, and his relationship to Christianity changing over the years. 

I'm joined by Corbin (https://www.instagram.com/corbincorbin/) and Neek (https://www.instagram.com/neek4freak/) from Freakscene.diy. We talk about the old internet, the new internet, and how the DIY ethos lives on in the spaces carved out online. Freakscene.diy is an old school internet forum where you can follow your local music scene, find bands, shows, and talk whatever on a site that isn't going to turn your information into a product. A true community online in a world of dead internet and AI bots. 

On this episode I start a series working with Topshelf Records, who hooked me up with Devin McKnight (Speedy Ortiz, Grass is Green, and Philadelphia Collins) about his band Maneka. We talk about growing up in the suburbs, transitioning from high school sports into playing music, and how do you convince your parents that a career in music is actually possible. 

James Binkowski from Non Binary Girl Friend comes on the pod to talk about enthusiasm, taking yourself and your art seriously, moving to PDX, and playing music to have fun with the audience. 

Jessica Boudreaux and Devon Shirley from Summer Cannibals come on the podcast to talk about the band's upcoming anniversary shows, the changing Portland Music Scene, and Bay Area Psych Rock. 

Isabel and Kyle talk with longtime friend Spencer Hoffman about his new album Cherry Picker, writing through different stages of your life, and the differences between the LA music Scene and Portland. 

So at Famous Portland Bar Barlow, I asked friends if they knew any comedians that would want to be on the podcast and they threw out Sean Jordan as like a "Could you imagine?" type guy. Well, anyway, Sean comes on to the podcast to talk about his history getting into standup comedy, moving to Portland, his dream to be a professional skateboarder, and skater music. Catch him playing shows in Portland, as the host of Nice to Be Nice, or cohosting All Fantasy Everything and go watch his special Girl Dad. 

This conversation was going to happen even if this podcast never existed. It's the first episode of the newly renamed Unc.slop podcast, with Sonia Weber from Alien Boy. We talk taking music seriously in a slacker city, developing lifelong artistic partnerships, and the inevitability of Billy Corgan.Thank you to How Strange It Is for the intro/outro music. Please Subscribe to my Instagram page to get extra content starting next week. 

Isabel and Kyle are joined by Blake and Triston from Shallowater to talk about Texas, the changing shape of Indie rock, being a musician in Houston, and the endless victory of time over the hubris of man that lingers deep in the soil of west Texas.

In this episode Kyle does the solo hosting with guest Coral Reef of Mallbrawlreds (@mallbrawlreds on Instagram). She shares how she ended up in Portland and the trials and triumphs of wrestling all ages shows into existence in the scene. We are all Salmon swimming against the current, when you think about it. Mallbrawlreds is an agency that sets up an promotes all ages shows in and around Portland Oregon, check them out if you're looking for something to do or if you're looking for new music to check out.

Kyle and Isabel are joined by Benson Chong of Honeydiu (@honeydiu on instagram) to talk about running house shows in college, how finding new music has changed, and the eternal New Jersey of Garden State.

Kyle and Isabel, safe finally from illness, societal unrest, and technical issues (sort of on all accounts) invite Nathan Urbach of Pileup to talk Sufjan Stevens, Music for life changing moments, and the poetic truth behind non-conformist thinking. Check out Pileup's new album Leave The Light On coming out February 24th!

After a week of illness and some major technical issues we're back with Tim Howe of Vista House, First Rodeo and several other projects. Kyle and Time talk about playing in bands, the haunted american west, and Jason Molina's album Josephine when Kyle can stay on topic.

Kyle, aka Smiling Strange, aka costc0 goes on a solo podcast to talk about the content so far, what's to come, and his process for trying to come up with ideas. Then at the 40 minute mark He shifts to answering Viewer Mail Questions.

We talk about intergenerational conflict, figuring out podcasting on the fly, and Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Featuring Kyle Rosse, Isabel ZachariasMusic by How Strange It Is

It's a podcast where that guy from instagram who walks around and talks about music now talks to you via podcast. Joined by Isabel Zacharias (Babytooth, formally of KMHD in Portland) we work our way through getting started in a local music scene, minor internet fame, and what we think the direction of the podcast will be. Intro and outro music by How Strange It Is