Breaking Bread With Benn Grim

I welcome my friend Mister (@spooky_moulder_) back onto the show for a second run to make up for my tomfoolery that was deleting 17 podcasts at one time while trying to archive them. Mister and I tackle such topics as our favorite conspiracy theories, the universe, religion vs. aliens, Egypt and our favorite video games. Mister gives me a quick overview of the new social media platform Vero and we both give our takes on social media on a whole. This is the first episode back after a 2 month break and I'm happy to be back! Intro/Outro music is supplied by Yours Truly with my man @robviktum on the pads. The track was part of an EP release @pigfoodrecords did as a donation surprise for last weeks #AAOshow. If you'd like a copy, head on over to pigfoodrecords.com or find me in THA STREETS!

Matt Grippo (@mattgripp) is my younger brother of two years. Matt lives in San Francisco and is an accomplished bar tender. Matt and I talk a bunch of bar industry stuff, early Connecticut hardcore, living in San Fran and what it takes to be a good dad. Todays podcast will be the last Breaking Bread with Benn Grim podcast. I'd like to thank my sponsors and everyone that listened and supported over the last year. Outro music is an untitled track supplied by my friend Griffwon.    

Mike Detelj (@detelj.86f) is a young, free thinking artist from Hartford CT and he is 1/12 of the UZOO CREW. Mike and I discuss today's new hip hop music scene, easy fame, Soundcloud conspiracies, politics, racism, the left vs the right, immigration ideals, humanity on a whole and what you are going to need to be a good person in 2018. Into/Outro music was supplied by Mike himself with an unreleased track titled "Play This at my Funeral prod. by VILLN 

Joel is a Connecticut Chef who has been working in the restaurant industry for the better part of 15 years. Joel just recently opened up his own restaurant, Grano Arso in the quiet, quaint village of Chester. Joel brought me a copy of this weeks menu and we analyze the ins and outs of pasta making, the benefits of seasonal and frequent menu change and menu construction. Joel and I talk a bit about customer service, the "nose to tail" and "waste nothing" approaches to cooking and the importance of the term "locally sourced." Joel and I talk a bit about his time as a young hardcore show goer and then we speak on the advantages and disadvantages of the TV cooking show world. Intro/Outro music is provided by Erik Lamb with his track titled, Kiss the Ring.

Van Hurd is a current Nutmegger transplanted by way of Texas. Van is Head Chef and Pit Master at Taino Smokehouse in Middletown with a new location slated to open in Meriden this spring. Van and I talk about our favorite local restaurants, our favorite regions of BBQ (we both answered Carolina), his return to Hell's Kitchen as an all star chef and his personal views on the local chef competition scene. Intro/Outro music was supplied by Abs0lute and Xkwisit with their new single titled Dark Clouds. 

Jake Blake (@jakeblakeart) is a food snob, cutting edge goth, fine artist, Brazilian jiu jitsu white belt and black metal aficionado. Jake and I discuss food, friendship, fitness, bjj, true meaning of what makes good people good and bad people bad and what it takes to sell art. Jake and I both share funny and real stories about our fathers and Jake ends the podcast with a hilarious story about coexisting with his in-laws. Intro/Outro music supplied by Words Hurt with a track titled, "The Kids Are Alright."

Harley Carrara (@traditioncycles) is a Chopper enthusiast/builder, skateboarder, hardcore frontman and philosopher. Harley grew up in my hometown of Bristol Connecticut and was 4 years older than I. Harley and I share tales of the Central Connecticut Hardcore scene, mutual and converging tales of our adolescence and his love for motorcycles and the open road. Harley gives his take on being an artist and the long forgotten practice of being original. Intro/Outro music is a track by PUS titled "Begging."  

Greg Thomas (@blackfreighter) is the man behind the boards at Silver Bullet Studios and the audio mind power behind a lot of your favorite bands recordings. Greg and I talk music, the Connecticut Hardcore hay day and most importantly, his experience recording a 25 ta Life record and having Rick ta Life stay at his house for a week in Burlington CT. Intro/Outro music supplied by Alaska and Lang-Vo with another single from their Words Hurt project titled "World's Worst Life Coach." 

Today I broadcasted live from Goldburgers' Capitol Ave location from the Pork for Puerto Rico Event to help raise money for the victims of Hurricane Maria. I sat down with three specific patrons that came in to donate. Wiley, Roy and Drew. Wiley is a artist/photographer, Roy is a successful food truck owner and chicken master, and Drew is a carpenter, party animal and life time oi fanatic. Each one of these gentlemen gave me a small glimpse into their day to day and they all each gave me their views on being charitable Americans. Music provided by Dark Will Come with a new track titled, "Longingly I walk towards the wood." 

Tim Marotto (@cheftim_m) and Matt Crowley (@mattcrow77) are the duo behind the Goldburgers Empire. Tim, Matt and I discuss food, opening restaurants, charity and what it takes to make a good team in and outside of the workplace. I say charity because Goldburgers at 399 Capitol Ave Hartford is having an event on Sunday November 5th to benefit the ongoing struggle that his happening in Puerto Rico as we speak. Come down, grab a pork sandwich or some pork rice and beans and help support a good cause brought to you by two awesome guys. Heres a spoiler, I'll be recording live from Goldburgers that day so come on in and say hi!  

N.M.E. The Illest (@nmetheillest) and Stryfe (@stryfe_ct_hiphop) are two rap buds of mine from New London Connecticut. They work out of the Danger Room studio along side of Chumzilla and Apathy. N.M.E., Stryfe and I discuss preforming live, the art of hip hop/rap and we also make fun of some some rap friends. Intro/Outro track is titled "Hate Me Quietly" By N.M.E. produced by Skobiewon and Mark Castillo with cuts by Chumzilla. 

Blacastan (@blacastan) is a Hartford native and critically acclaimed underground rapper. Blacastan is a member of the Demigodz and Army of the Pharaohs. Blacastan is also one half of the hip hop duo, Watson and Holmes co-piloted with producer Stu Bangas. Blac and I discuss the music industry, hip hop and his origins in music. Intro/Outro music is a track entitled, Take Your Medicine by Tha Red Baron. 

Connor Steen is a fitness enthusiast and supplement guru. Connor works at the local Max Muscle and is also a personal trainer. Connor and I talk about lifting/exercise routines, steroids, dieting and life. Connor closed out the podcast his new smash hit, "Protein Farts." Intro/Outro music is titled, "Respect My Odyssey" by Chumzilla and Benn Grim.   

On todays podcast I have my buds Skobie and Chum and we discuss our opinion of a few movies that are in theaters, our contrasting ideas of what we think Chum's penis looks like and some other rabble rousing bullshit. We also talk about some of our favorite foods and the difference between the methods these gentlemen use to cook their steaks. Todays Intro/Outro music is Skobiewon feat. Erik Lamb off of "Drive" Act One: Double Clutch.

David Dews (@ratbearhandmade) is a local craftsman from the Hartford area. David is best known for his hat company, Ratbear Handmade. David, along with two friends, recently launched the beginnings of a local skate company called Sad Dad Skateboards. David and I talk small business and what it takes to be a (sad) dad. This weeks intro/outro music was supplied by Alaska and Cryptic One with another single from their "IT" project titled "I AM"

Tim Wiggins (@wigginscc) is a rapper, father, working class hero and hood legend. Tim and I use to make up 2/3 of the Connecticut Hip Hop outfit, The Mizery Crew. In a world of fake and meaningless acquaintances, Tim stands as one of my best and longest running friendships. Tim and I recount some old drug war stories, fight stories and some of our fondest shared memories. Intro/Outro music was supplied by Upstate New York's Jack of all Trades and Mic Lanny. Their new single, "25K" available now on iTunes. 

Tyler Anderson is a Connecticut culinary icon and a key player in the New England food scene. While still manning the helm at Millwright's Restaurant in Simsbury CT, Tyler has opened another high profile restaurant in West Hartford's Blue Back Square called Cook and the Bear. Tyler and I talk food, life, family, hardcore, punk and most importantly being a restauranteur. Intro/Outro music is a track produced by Sammy Marion titled "King of the Nutmeg."

Chris Grosso (@xchrisgrossox) is a spiritual guru (he is to me!) and he is also the author of the books The Indie Spiritualist and Everything Mind. Chris and I talk about our roots in Connecticut Hardcore, our respective pasts, the fun/trouble we had as younger people and the turn for the better both of our lives have taken. We talk about Chris' books and a new publication he has in the works. Intro music was supplied by my bud Brendan "Absolute" Paulsen. The track is titled "Anthrax" off of the album he just wrapped up with Shyste, "Lord of the Flies".

On this weeks episode of the podcast I have my friend Marshall Demming of Hartford Denim Company (@hardenco). We talk denim, running a small business, growing your company and his experiences of starting a business in Hartford CT. We talk about the glory days of Hartford nightlife and the who's who of local artisinal goods. Intro/Outro music is a song titled, "We're Not Here To Be Loved", this is the experimental offering of my friend Kane and Anthony from Vein. 

Apathy (@apathydgz) is the godfather of Connecticut Hip Hop, a member of the World Famous Demigodz Crew, a member of the rap super group Army of the Pharaohs and he is also a Freemason. We talk life as a rapper, touring, being a dad and the untimely death of the late Linkin Park front-man Chester Bennington. Apathy and I break down life on the road, touring in Europe and making a home for himself in southeastern Connecticut. Intro and outro music was provided by The Atoms Family, Cryptic One (@cryp_uno) and Alaska (@timlaska_atoms) debuting their smash hit W.F.A.F.