This episode of the Serious Introspection audio podcast talks with several members of the block that chain worklab that I participated in in Graz, Austria. block that chain is a week-long worklab hosted by the wonderful mur.at to explore the questions, problems, and deeper issues behind blockchain technology. I was delighted to be part of this, as it drew together a mix of artists, hackers, musicians, theorists, and sociologists for an intensive programme to utilise our expertise and perspectives. The week had no shortage of theoretical discussions which touched on ethics, economics, and technology, while provided me a much-needed alternative viewpoint –– or rather, viewpoints –– to most media coverage of blockchain issues. I talk with Martin Schitter, Bailey Keogh, Michael Mastrototaro, Jurij Smrke and Goran Bečirevič. Notes and links to topics mentioned in the discussion can be found on the SI website, www.seriousintrospection.fi.

Serious Introspection

SI podcast #4: Dispatches from 'block that chain'

I dusted off the microphones to record the first Serious Introspection audio podcast in over two years. Sadly, the occasion was the passing of David Berman, poet and musician, whose death has affected me immensely. I called up Andy, a comedy writer and proper podcaster based in Los Angeles, to talk about Berman's work and what he meant to us and to so many others. Even if you weren't a Silver Jews fan, you might enjoy our conversation. We talk about public mourning, avatars of America, the America that never existed, Otherness and art, irony and honesty, Judaism, propagating values through culture, support systems, kindness, empathy for the MAGA, and the quality of light on the West coast. Notes and links relating to our discussion can be found on the SI website, www.seriousintrospection.fi.

SI audio podcast #3: Andy Beckerman remembers the wild kindness of David Berman

We're back, at least for one night. We did a live reunion show at Nida Art Colony on 29 June 2019, with guests Dafna Maimon and Vytautas Michelkevičius, plus some random people, bespoke karaoke, email quotes taken out of context, ketchup, a failed attempt to get people to drink a cocktail called a 'Tequila Rambo', mild slapstick violence, and lots of live tweeting via #SeriousIntrospection. See you again in three more years!

SI special episode at Nida Art Colony - 'The Shutout'

My pal Girilal stopped by Helsinki last month and we recorded this conversation, which touched on science fiction, improvisation, being an audience member, and lots more. This is also an attempt to keep the SI podcast feed alive with some occasional content, as enough interesting people pass through my life that I should try to share their ideas with a larger audience, right??

SI podcast #2: Girilal Baars

For the last episode of Serious Introspection, filmed on 13 April 2016, we did a short set as the opening act of the 2016 Lal Lal Lal festival. But first, we brought Marianna Keisalo (last seen in S02E01 back on stage to catch-up on her life as the hardest working standup comedienne/anthropologist in Helsinki. Marijn aka Red Brut was up next, and then we welcomed the Mental Alaska group, organisers of the Lal Lal Lal fest, to officially open the festival and officially close out Serious Introspection. I don't know if this is the end of the regular weekly shows for sure but at least for the time being - it's an exhausting experience! Keep subscribed to the podcast feed for future audio-only episodes and any occasional one-offs we may end up doing. And I must remind you that SI Services is available to hire for your party, wedding, bar mitzvah or other corporate event. Thanks again to Mad House for allowing two seasons of this silliness as well as Justin Tyler Tate (the O.G. Hype Man), Ernest Truely (our meta-media specialist), Lotta Blomberg (SI videographer) and Joosep Tormis (our sound sherpa).

Serious Introspection S02E08: Marianna Keisalo, Red Brut, and Mental Alaska

It was great to have Tuukka Asplund fill in as Hype Man for the last two episodes of Serious Introspection's second season. In episode 7, we first welcomed the inimitable Olaf Möller to discuss his approach to teaching cinema, Finnish cinema, and some childhood memories. Then we welcomed the equally inimatble Mari Keski-Korsu to talk a bit about her work, the forthcoming 2016 Pixelache Festival, and to demonstrate her study of Baltic sauna whisking techniques. We additionally celebrated this being our last "full" episode, sang a tribute to Justin, and reviewed some festival experiences together with Ernest. And we tried to phone my parents, but they didn't answer. This episode took place way back on the 6th of April, 2016.

Serious Introspection S02E07: Olaf Möller, Mari Keski-Korsu

The final Serious Introspection episode @ IHME 2016 was with manifesto reader Hannu Väisänen and bonus guest Inga Lace.

SI IHME special #6: Hannu Väisänen and Inga Lace.

A seated discussion with a handful of artists who were part of the Marathon event that evening: Nestori Syrjälä, Pekka and Teija Isorättyä, and Eero Yli-Vakkuri.

SI IHME special #5: Seated/roundtable discussion with Nestori Syrjälä, Pekka and Teija Isorättyä, and Eero Yli-Vakkuri

The fourth Serious Introspection episode @ IHME 2016 featured musician Pierre Bastien, curator Hamza Walker, and artists Päivi Raivio and Robin Ellis.

SI IHME special #4: Pierre Bastien, Hamza Walker, Päivi Raivio and Robin Ellis

The third Serious Introspection episode @ IHME 2016 featured Stephen Paul Taylor and Jan Verwoert and took place on Saturday, 2 April 2016.

SI IHME special #3: Jan Verwoert, Stephen Paul Taylor

The second Serious Introspection episode @ IHME 2016 featured festival director Paula Toppila and IHME 2016 artist Kateřina Šedá. It was a cold outdoor show but we talked about the tram busking project, the approach to art in everyday life, and their expectations for the rest of the festival.

SI IHME special #2: Paula Toppila, Kateřina Šedá

Here is the first show from the 2016 IHME Päivät festival, which took place on 1 April 2016 at Vanha (Old Student House) in Helsinki. We set up these shows outside, on the 'stage' next to Vanha, and throughout the weekend interviewed a variety of festival participants hoping to promote it to the general public. On Friday, the first show was with Pontus Kyander and Aleksi Salusjärvi, discussing Pontus's forthcoming manifesto and the crisis of Finnish art. We also had a drunken heckler who genuinely believed that Pontus was Elton John.

SI IHME special #1: Pontus Kyander, Aleksis Salusjärvi

Serious Introspection actually ended awhile ago, but due to general life commitments I've been way behind on getting the videos edited and posted. So with many apologies, here is the belated episode 6 of season two, which actually took place way back in March. I had the flu and almost cancelled the show, but instead I turned up and let Justin take charge, and this turned out to be either the best or worst episode ever depending on your taste. My old friend Hanna Tuulikki, from the UK, was in town to talk about her residency at Saari, and Kimmo Modig came up to help carry the show since I was pretty much delirious. This was also Justin's final show before he escaped to Taiwan!

Serious Introspection S02E06: Kimmo Modig, Hanna Tuulikki

We've been a bit behind schedule on editing videos, but here is the video from episode 5, which took place on 23 March 2016. Our guests were 110% (Lachlan and Beth), Marek Pluciennik, and the mysterious Mirva. Agnieszka also joined to talk about our trip to Prague. We had some live performance art, and we talked about film and depression too. Ernest sent in a travel report from Madrid, too. We'll have the most recent episode edited next week, as well as a slew of shorter episodes from the IHME festival.

Serious Introspection S02E05: Marek Pluciennik, 110% and Mirva

Serious Introspection season 2, episode 4 took place on Wednesday, 16 March 2016 at Ihana Baari in Helsinki and featured Tuukka Asplund and Kira O'Reilly as guests. We talked about life in Helsinki, ecology and trans-disciplinary approaches to performance, British complaint culture, and the value of making stuff or not. Also, we sang some karaoke, went to Estonia, tried to call Ernest, and spoke again with my parents.

Serious Introspection S02E04: Tuukka Asplund and Kira O'Reilly

Serious Introspection, live from Mad House Helsinki.

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Serious Introspection

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