Episode 35 of STARK REALITY features Host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange's exclusive Stark Reality interview with DR. ASATAR BAIR Dr. Asatar Bair is a professor of economics based in Riverside California. He identifies as a communist, which is pretty rare to see in academia in the US. Throughout this in-depth interview, Jim and Dr. Bair talk about background growing up, his recent viral tweets about Stalin, academia in general, the cruelty of capitalism (aka victims of capitalism haha), Uyghur/China propaganda, being assertive against these false narratives, and retaining a sense of humor in this world. He also has practiced meditation for many years. To hear Dr. Bair's exclusive Stark Reality mix, a nice 'generation x' playlist of hip hop, rock, and modern sounds, go to Episode 36 of STARK REALITY PLAYLISTS wherever you get your podcasts or on the Stark Reality page on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STARK REALITY with Jim Dier aka $mall ¢hange

STARK REALITY Episode 35 Guest Dr. Asatar Bair

Episode 33 of STARK REALITY, recorded 7/6/21, features Host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange's exclusive Stark Reality interview with LEIGH BUTLER. Leigh Butler is good ppls. Met him few years back at Movement through mutual friends, he is an old school techno head, music head really, been clubbing for many many years, UK, Germany, Detroit, Chicago, NYC, etc etc. He occasionally spins out but mostly wheels and deals records and has a deep knowledge of dance music.  Jim's in-depth conversation with Leigh covers Detroit DJs like Gary Chandler and Al Ester, Todd Edwards playing at a club in his neighborhood at the beginning of 2 Step, parties at the old Tresor in Berlin.  And Leigh wraps it up with a review of a recent car boot sale he hit. Really breaking news I know haha. Anyways enjoy. To hear LEIGH BUTLER's exclusive Stark Reality "Detroit Techno 2019" playlist, listen/subscribe to STARK REALITY PLAYLISTS Episode 34, wherever you get your podcasts and live & direct on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network, MUSIC Channel See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STARK REALITY Episode 33 Guest LEIGH BUTLER

Episode 31 of STARK REALITY, recorded 6/22/21, features Host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange's exclusive Stark Reality interview with Lucien Samaha, a DJ, photographer, and someone Jim has known for many years in NYC. Born in Lebanon, he was a flight attendant since he was 20, and traveled all over the world taking pictures. He has over a million, plus collects tons of vintage photography from flea markets etc. His Mondo 107 party on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center was a Wednesday night hotspot until 9/11. He also spun in very large bathroom at the Tunnel circa '97/'98, and has a book of vintage club/ravers going there at the time. Great convo about growing up in the Middle East, photography, the 90s lounge revival, DJing, getting old, politics, etc. Enjoy! He also graces us with an 'eclectic home lounge' playlist on Episode 32 of STARK REALITY PLAYLISTS, available wherever you get your podcasts.  For more information about Lucien, go to www.luciensamaha.net , check his Patreon page and follow him on Instagram @luciensamaha_onfilm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STARK REALITY 31 Guest Lucien Samaha

Episode 29 of STARK REALITY, recorded 5/18/21, features Host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange's exclusive Stark Reality interview with DJ ZHAO.  Born in Beijing and based in Berlin (plus spending some time in LA, NYC and Houston in btw), Dj Zhao is a musicologist and rhythm ambassador, applying historical materialist analysis to the evolution of social music, and bringing a poly-cultural understanding of rhythm to his deeply percussive cross-genre sets. Not restricted by style or convention, Dj Zhao draws from wildly different times and places, connecting the global North with the South, acoustic and electronic, traditional and hyper-modern. In this episode, Leo (Zhao) and Jim talk about why working ppl should support China, NYC experimental DJ scenes in the 90s/00s, declining arts funding and gentrification in Berlin, growing up in Beijing, anti-communist propaganda in the west, no dancing/anti-rave laws, and even give a quick shoutout to Tommy's Burgers in LA, a late night post club staple. Don't know what's in their chili...and probably don't want to know lol. To hear DJ Zhao's jacking hard house mix "Harder 3," check out Episode 30 on STARK REALITY PLAYLISTS wherever you get your podcasts.  Check it and his other mixes on his Soundcloud page, he has 'many styles, many styles' as they say on Scenario... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STARK REALITY Episode 29 Guest DJ ZHAO

This time around, for Episode 27, STARK REALITY rolls out the red carpet all the way to Alabama, to talk to gospel radio DJ and folklife archivist KEVIN NUTT. His Sinner's Crossroads show on WFMU is the real deal. Amazing gospel show running for a decade and then some. Kevin also does a long running Friday evening weekly at local watering hole Leroy Lounge.  Jim and Kevin talk about taking requests and playing favorites, coastal attitudes on the south and typical stereotypes, race and class, bourbon, Spotify algorhythms, NPR liberalism, rare records and purism, getting pigeonholed musically, changing academic theories on the relation of the blues with the early minstrel shows, liberation theology, El Salvador, CIA propaganda, pro union gospel songs from Bessemer Alabama in the 20s and 30s, where there was a recent drive for unionization in an Amazon warehouse there. And more, ended up chatting for a few hours. Kevin is the man! Music and politics way on point. Enjoy. Recorded May 7th, 2021 To hear the exclusive Stark Reality playlist from Kevin Nutt, go to Episode 28 of STARK REALITY PLAYLISTS wherever you get your podcasts, on Mixcloud, or live & direct on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network Music Channel.  He also gave us two short playlists, one an excerpt from Leroy Lounge, another one of selections he would play on his radio show.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STARK REALITY 27 Guest Kevin Nutt

Episode 26 of STARK REALITY features features the exclusive in-depth Stark Reality interview with Host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange and his guest, sports media pro and justice journalist CHUCK MODIANO, recorded April 2021. Chuck Modiano is a writer, lecturer, and trainer dedicated to promoting equity in sports media coverage. A justice journalist, frequently at various protests around the country and in DC, Chuck interviews people there and provides important coverage to what is going on in the streets. A longtime sports fanatic, we talk about being actively anti-racist, the NFL, social media, activism, and how much of an asshole Bill Maher is. He passed on giving us a playlist, all good. Chuck is the man! Check his many articles over the years, and you can follow him on twitter at @ChuckModi1 Listen and subscribe to STARK REALITY and STARK REALITY PLAYLISTS wherever you get your podcasts and live & direct on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network Music Channel See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STARK REALITY 26 Guest Chuck Modiano

Episode 24 of STARK REALITY features the exclusive in-depth Stark Reality interview with Host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange and his guest Bolivian-based DJ/record collector and dealer and top ppls SONIDO MARTINES.   Originally from Argentina and living in La Paz, Bolivia for many years, SONIDO MARTINES (aka Xavier) talks to Jim about chewing on cocoa leaves, the distribution of records in South America, playing on Sonideros (soundsystems) in Mexico, living in Bolivia during the recent fascist coup and aftermath, and more... To hear the exclusive STARK REALITY playlist from SONIDO MARTINES, check out Episode 25 of STARK REALITY on Mixcloud, Apple Podcasts, and live & direct on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network Music Shows Channel.  Xavier gives us a great forty-five plus minute mix of all Bolivian tracks ripped from his vast collection of records and 45s. For more information about SONIDO MARTINES check out @sonidomartines on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STARK REALITY 24 Guest SONIDO MARTINES

Episode 24 of STARK REALITY features the exclusive in-depth Stark Reality interview with Host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange and his guest Bolivian-based DJ/record collector and dealer and top ppls SONIDO MARTINES, recorded in early February 2021.   Originally from Argentina and living in La Paz, Bolivia for many years, SONIDO MARTINES (aka Xavier) talks to Jim about chewing on coca leaves, the distribution of records in South America, playing on Sonideros (soundsystems) in Mexico, living in Bolivia during the recent fascist coup and aftermath, and more... To hear the exclusive STARK REALITY playlist from SONIDO MARTINES, check out Episode 25 of STARK REALITY on Mixcloud, Apple Podcasts, and live & direct on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network Music Shows Channel.  Xavier gives us a great forty-five plus minute mix of all Bolivian tracks ripped from his vast collection of records and 45s. For more information about SONIDO MARTINES check out @sonidomartines on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Episode 23 of STARK REALITY, Host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange chats at length with independent journalist, podcaster and Soapbox producer RANIA KHALEK.  Rania Khalek, known for her international reporting on the underclass, is a producer, writer, host at Soapbox, and host of a few podcasts, including Unauthorized Disclosure, and the newer Left Bitches (Who Are Right). Rania has a very good take on Middle East politics (and the world in general), grew up in the US and is currently living in Lebanon. In this in-depth STARK REALITY interview, James and Rania talk about Covid living, Lebanon, Syria, how sanctions are evil, deplatforming on social media, tik tok, having beers in Damascus, her piece on the Yazidi people and their struggle against ISIS. Rania is hilarious and you'll always learn something talking to her... For more information about RANIA KHALEK check out www.raniakhalek.com and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @raniakhalek See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STARK REALITY 23 Guest Rania Khalek

Episode 21 of STARK REALITY with Host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange features the exclusive long-form interview with special guest GIOVANNI GALVESTON.  Gio is a longtime DJ, builds custom sound systems, and runs the Festival DMT Community Sound System in DC.  A homegrown loudspeaker system that helps event organizers and community events have proper sound. He also works the company Vocalics.ai on computer voice translation. He's good ppls and Jim and Gio talk about the recent DC riots, building your own sound system, bad dreams, and much more... For more information about the DMT Community Sound System, check out www.facebook.com/FDMTCommunitySound on Facebook To hear GIOVANNI GALVESTON's exclusive butta RnB playlist, check out Episode 22 of STARK REALITY on Mixcloud, or live and direct on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network Music Shows Channel See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STARK REALITY 21 Guest Giovanni Galveston

Episode 19 of STARK REALITY with Host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange features the long-form exclusive interview with special guest TONY CONQUERRAH, a DJ in New York City for over 15 years. In this episode of Stark Reality, recorded on 10/19/20, Tony talks to Jim about being accused of being a Russian bot (lol!) by centrist trolls, his musical journey from hip hop and punk into reggae and beyond, records that you can cross genres with, dealing with anxiety during the pandemic and coming out of that. Plus a shoutout to Father German, a well respected and loved person in the NYC reggae scene who unfortunately passed recently. To hear Tony Conquerrah's Exclusive STARK REALITY playlist, check out Stark Reality Episode 20 on Mixcloud and live and direct on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network Music Shows Channel Currently, Tony Conquerrah hosts a new podcast on The Face Radio called Coconut Grove, which explores the cultural exchange between Caribbean and American music from all different eras.   For more information check out @thefaceradiobk and  @coconutgrovebk on Instagram For more information about all things Tony Conquerrah check out @dubbyconquerrah on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STARK REALITY 19 Guest Tony Conquerrah

On STARK REALITY Episode 17, host Jim Dier aka $mall ¢hange interviews guest BETTY JACKSON KING.  Betty Jackson King has always been a dancer, from her teenage years in NJ and Detroit (where she was a dancer on the local Detroit show 'The Scene'), to following the roller skating scene in the 2000s, and lately with hula hooping and fire spinning. She also just hosted her first radio show for BMIR, Burning Man Information Radio.  Jim and Betty talk about Burning Man, music, flow arts, mental health during this pandemic, and perspective on police violence, as a black mother with a son in his early 20s. She's tops, and gives us a nice soulful playlist..To hear Betty's exclusive STARK REALITY playlist, go to Episode 18 of Stark Reality on Mixcloud, or live and direct on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network, Music Shows channel. For more information about BETTY JACKSON KING, check her out on Instagram @mshoopsk8er See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STARK REALITY 17 Guest Betty Jackson King

On STARK REALITY Episode 15, Host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange goes deep with over two hours with Nathaniel (aka Nate) Wallace, currently a public school educator in Jersey City, a former college athlete (football), labor organizer and social justice activist, and president of the detested (by the Israel lobby) Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter at Florida State University in 2013-14. Nate's coached high school football and mentored numerous at risk youth in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. and in Jersey City, and most recently launched a new show and podcast called Redspin Sports. Nate co-hosts Redspin Sports along with his friend and Jacksonville, Fla. based labor & racial justice activist, Michael Sampson. To hear Nate's exclusive 60 minute STARK REALITY playlist of politically charged tracks, go to Episode 16 of STARK REALITY on Mixcloud or live and direct on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network MUSIC SHOWS Follow Nate on Twitter @NateWallace9 and keep up with Redspin Sports @RedspinSports See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STARK REALITY 15 Guest Nate Wallace

On Episode 13 of STARK REALITY, host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange interviews Colleen Vincent, VP of a Community for the James Beard Foundation and a vocal champion for diverse leadership in all sectors of the hospitality industry. She is also the co-founder of Black Food Folks, a fellowship of Black folks working in food and drink promoting and supporting each other for mutual success, and is a member the West Indian Chefs Alliance.  She is a Brooklyn native that came of age during the 90’s golden age of hip hop and an avid Junglist.  To hear Colleen Vincent's exclusive STARK REALITY playlist of classic NYC and East Coast hip-hop jams, go to Episode 14 of STARK REALITY on Mixcloud. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

STARK REALITY Episode 13 Guest Colleen Vincent

On the latest installment of STARK REALITY, host James Dier aka $mall ¢hange interviews Geoffrey Wilson aka DJ Reverend Robert Sinewave If you know Geoffrey; you’d know that he’s a good friend, a good ally, and a staunch believer in equality, visibility, and diversity in the hospitality industry. He’s also a talented and creative bartender. Having spent close to a decade working in the International House Hotel in New Orleans, Ocotillo in Phoenix, and Multnomah Whiskey Library in Portland, OR, Geoffrey has honed his skill and earned the honor of Best Bartender in Chicago in 2008 and Phoenix in 2014. In addition to this, he is currently making ice for the best ice company in Portland, PDX Ice.  In addition to enjoying the company of his carefully curated group of friends, he also enjoys hanging around dogs, cats, and sometimes rabbits.  Geoffrey has a favorite color, it’s black. He also has an extensive record collection and has been known to host Love American Style nights at The Record Store in Portland, OR. If you find yourself in the area, be sure to follow his Instagram @rev.robertsinewave and join in the fun. Ask him about his purple Chucks. To hear Reverend Robert's exclusive Stark Reality all weed-flavored mix go to STARK REALITY Episode 12 on Mixcloud or live and direct on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network Music Shows

STARK REALITY Episode 11 Geoffrey Wilson aka Reverend Robert Sinewave

STARK REALITY is a podcast hosted by Jim Dier aka $mall ¢hange, a DJ and record collector based in NYC.  Each episode features a longform interview and short mix or playlist not only on music but also progressive/leftist politics.  And whatever really, not looking to define it too much... For more information about Jim Dier aka Small Change go to www.djsmallchange.com

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STARK REALITY with Jim Dier aka $mall ¢hange

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