Something (rather than nothing)
Society & Culture
About
Why is there something rather than nothing? This podcast is a philosophical and psychological exploration into the act of creation (poets, musicians, writers, painters, thinkers, all of us) by: Ken Volante
Episodes
- Cryptic Divination
Cryptic Divination is a progressive death metal band influenced by Opeth and Cynic. Their sound incorporates heavy riffs, clean vocals, and screams, drawing from
- April Fox and Deep Dark Yoga
April Fox teaches yoga in Portland, OR, incorporating doom metal music into her Deep Dark Yoga classes. These classes offer a slow, gentle flow set to heavy music, welcoming beginners and those new to yoga.
- Lee Upton
Lee Upton, a multi-genre author, discusses her literary career, which includes numerous poetry collections, short stories, a novella, and books of literary criticism. She previously held the Francis A. March Professor Emerita of English an…
- SWOON, Caledonia Curry
Caledonia Curry, or Swoon, is an internationally recognized artist known for her public artwork, installations, and community projects. With over 20 years of exploring human complexity and advocating for social justice through art, she has…
- Darrin Doyle
Darrin Doyle, born in Saginaw, Michigan, has held numerous jobs including paperboy, janitor, and salesman, before becoming a professor and author. He has a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do, plays many musical instruments, and teaches at Central M…
- ART BAR Magazine
Art Bar Magazine focuses on the lived human experiences of creatives and their influence on art, targeting both emerging and established artists.
- Keeli Littleleaf
Keeli Littleleaf is a powwow dancer, cultural educator, and fashion designer known for her unique style and her fashion line AYAYAT. She integrates ancestral teachings into her couture, emphasizing body positivity, inclusivity, and Indigen…
- 'Connoly' with Stefan Diethelm and Bradly Valenzuela
This episode of Something (rather than nothing) features artist Stefan Diethelm and director Bradly Valenzuela. Diethelm, a Swiss-German artist, has a background in classical voice and musical theatre, and is a playwright, actor, producer,…
- Crystal Skillman
Crystal Skillman, an award-winning playwright, discusses her work, including the play "The Rocket Men." The play examines the story of German rocket scientists who formed the backbone of NASA in North Alabama, focusing on Wernher von Braun…
- Patricia Lynn
Patricia Lynn, a playwright and actor known for her gothic feminist approach to theatre, discusses her career and her upcoming play, The Truth about Transylvania.
- Victoria Astuto
Victoria Astuto is a multi-talented artist from the Hudson Valley. Her EP "The Place" uses a variety of instruments to create atmospheric textures, drawing inspiration from her travels and themes of belonging and escape. She also composes…
- Leanna Renee Hieber
Leanna Renee Hieber, an actress and author, discusses her Gothic, Gaslamp Fantasy, and Supernatural Suspense books. Her co-authored book, "A Haunted History of Invisible Women," explores the intersection of women's history and ghost storie…
- Blair Borax
Blair Borax, a songwriter and recording artist, began her music journey in 2016. Known for her distinctive voice and captivating melodies, she has released two albums and performed over 300 shows nationally. Her 2024 album, "Tender Lately,…
- Jesi Bender
The episode features artist Jesi Bender, whose work explores experimental historical fiction and the nature of language. Her book, 'A Child of Light', is also discussed.
- Jen Michalski
Jen Michalski discusses her writing career, including her novels like ALL THIS CAN BE TRUE and THE TIDE KING, her fiction collections, and her edited anthology CITY SAGES: BALTIMORE. She has received recognition from CBS News, The Baltimor…
- Ophelia Darkly
Ophelia Darkly, a multifaceted artist from Portland, discusses magic, dreams, and storytelling as unifying elements in her work as a DJ, model, writer, performer, and Doll Tarot reader. She views art as a sacred universal force.
- Calvin John Smiley
In Episode 300 of Something Rather Than Nothing, host(s) discuss abolition with Calvin John Smiley, an associate professor of sociology at Hunter College-CUNY. Smiley
- Katie Marie
This episode features Katie Marie, a Cherokee/Choctaw educator and Indigenous Wisdomkeeper, in a conversation about matriarchy, wellness, Indigenous futures, our planet, art, and philosophy.
- Annabel McConnachie
Annabel McConnachie is an actress, writer, singer, dancer, and content creator from Sydney, now based in New York City. She is known for 'IKEA Heights - The Next Generation' and her play 'Archive of My Own'.
- Sophia Hembeck
Sophia Hembeck, a bilingual writer and artist from Edinburgh, discusses her poetic-memoir trilogy, which includes essays, short prose, and artwork. She is also an advocate for literary essays and teaches writing classes.
- LIVE at Browsers' Bookstore with Abe Richmond and Pete Dryden
Pete Dryden, a photographer and cabinet maker, and Abe Richmond, owner of Browsers' Bookstore, discuss various authors and topics including Edward Abbey, Kathy Acker, Morrissey, and Hunter S. Thompson. The conversation was recorded live at…
- Craig Randall
Craig Randall shares his lifelong journey with anxiety and depression, explaining how these struggles have fueled his creative work in fiction and poetry. He emphasizes the importance of emotional expression, particularly for men, and offe…
- Kola Shippentower
Kola Shippentower, Co-Captain of the Oregon Ravens Football Team and founder of The Wisáwca Project, discusses women's football and the MMIW movement. She is also a professional fighter and developed a safety plan.
- Meghan Lamb
Meghan Lamb is the author of Mirror Translation (Blamage Books, 2025), COWARD (Spuyten Duyvil, 2022), Failure to Thrive (Apocalypse Party, 2021) All of Your Most Private Places (Spork Press, 2020) and Silk Flowers (Birds of Lace, 2017). He…
- Raechel Wolfe
Raechel Wolfe is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Portland, OR, whose work spans film, writing, modeling, and Creative Direction. She made waves by creating FINK, the world’s first Instagram-exclusive short film, and was a founding mem…
- elle nash (deliver me)
elle nash is an electrifying writer based in glasgow, scotland this is about her book 'deliver me' - At a meatpacking facility in the Missouri Ozarks, Dee-Dee and her co-workers kill and butcher 40,000 chickens in a single shift. The…
- Vanessa Stockard
Vanessa Stockard recently visited the podcast for the 3rd time! Vanessa Stockard was born in 1975 in Sydney and spent her formative years in a small country town in the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. At 12 she returned to Sydney…
- Aaron Keuter
Aaron Keuter is an editor, motion designer, animator, and visual effects artist in Portland, Oregon. SRTN is a worldwide podcast that features the greatest creators you can find.
- Rachael Tyrell
Rachael Tyrell aims to create art that reimagines classic pinup aesthetics through a contemporary lens. Working primarily with Sharpies and various inks, she crafts pieces that radiate raw energy. Her sculptural work transforms everyday ob…
- Lady Ro
Lady Ro is a Baltimore based indie folk rock musician. Formally know as Baby Carrots, Lady Ro began playing shows in Baltimore in 2019, where she quickly garnering a solid following. Her performances are a dynamic blend of heartfelt song w…
- Tina aka poler.t.ina
Stop in and enjoy this lovely chat with dancer Tina! We chatted a bit of horror, a bit of art, a bit of dancing, standup comedy and constantly challenging yourself. There was even a special guest visit by Ripley The Cat. Thanks for v…
- Squirm! with Kels & Tess & Kenny & Jenny
Enjoy a lovely and vulnerable chat with Kels & Tess. Host Kenny and Co-host Jenny explore health, excitement, sex, p*rn and the powerful things that move us. Kels is a producer, businesswoman, and sex and relationship enthusiast. She…
- Albany, Oregon Teacher Strike Special! (with Liz Craig, Dana Lovejoy and Voices of GAEA)
Something (rather than nothing) Podcast presents a special STRIKE episode from Albany, Oregon. SRTN gives you an up to the moment report on the brave educators of The Greater Albany Education Association (GAEA) who have been on strike for…
- Besa Tetova
Besa is a film photographer and model who resides in Chicago. Her work is largely editorial, drawing inspiration from old Hollywood film noir and the creative direction of Sofia Coppola. Besa SRTN
- Elisabeth Eaves
Elisabeth Eaves is the author of the debut novel The Outlier as well as two critically acclaimed non-fiction books, Wanderlust: A love affair with five continents and Bare: the naked truth about stripping . Her work has been anthologized i…
- Keenan Marshall Keller and Alex Delaney
Shelia Knox awakes from a two week coma to find her life torn apart. Her children have been savagely murdered. Her husband is missing. Her hand completely mangled and her throat slit to within inches of her jugular…Leaving her with nothing…
- Samn Johnson
Samn Johnson (he/they, b. 1991) is a composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and historical linguist. Their work often harnesses research on acoustics and historical phonology to set texts in ancient languages like Latin, Old English, H…
- Frederick Livingston
Frederick Livingston lives in the liminal space between experiential education, sustainable agriculture, and peacebuilding. His work has appeared in numerous literary and scientific journals, public parks, and bathroom stalls. SRTN podcast
- Shannon Kringen
Multi Media Artist Shannon Kringen grew up in San Diego California and Whidbey Island Washington. She is a self taught photographer with a background in Graphic Design. She has worked as a figure model in Seattle since 1992. She completed…
- Aranea Push
Aranea Push is a digital illustrator and comic artist living in the PNW. Aranea blends rich illustration with sharp attitude, creating a style she lovingly refers to as ‘Effin’ Adorable’. In 2023, she published her first graphic novel “Cof…
- Olivia Dolphin
It was a pleasure to talk to Olivia Dolphin about her deep literary and musical talents back in Episode 116 Providence, Rhode Island’s Olivia Dolphin brings a deep and gritty honesty to her lyrics that captures an audience. Whether i…
- Sara McGrath
Sara McGrath is an illustrator and author of "Garage Girls" and lives in Los Angeles. About "Garage Girls" - - - Sara & Chloe are best friends, roommates, & co-hosts of garage girls, a weekly talk show that airs at an inconvenient time on…
- Ilya Popenko
Ilya Popenko is a multi-disciplinary artist who was born in the Soviet Union and immigrated to the US at the age of 16. He is an award-winning filmmaker and photographer as well as a songwriter and a performer. In 2011, he formed a band ca…
- Spencer Fleury
Spencer Fleury is the author of I Blame Myself But Also You and other stories (Malarkey Books, 2024) and How I’m Spending My Afterlife (Woodhall Press, 2021). He lives in San Francisco. Spencer Fleury Website SRTN Website
- Lauren O'Brien and "Lolo's Boyfriend Show"
Lauren graces the show again to talk more about her exciting solo play "Lolo's Boyfriend Show." It was such a thrill to talk to Lauren about art, the development of Lolo, taking risks on the stage and the hopes and dreams we all need : - )…
- Ross McMeekin
Ross McMeekin the author of The Hummingbirds (Skyhorse, 2018.) His short fiction has appeared in literary journals and magazines such as Virginia Quarterly Review , Shenandoah , Redivider , and X-R-A-Y . He has won fellowships from Hugo Ho…
- Matthew Kyle Levine
Matthew Kyle Levine is a filmmaker and cinematographer based in New York City. His short films have won awards and played at numerous film festivals throughout North America, including the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival and t…
- Paul Luikart
Paul Luikart is the author of the short story collections Animal Heart (Hyperborea Publishing, 2016), Brief Instructions (Ghostbird Press, 2017), Metropolia (Ghostbird Press, 2021), The Museum of Heartache (Pski’s Porch Publishing, 2021),…
- Shannon Robinson
The Ill-Fitting Skin is layered with surreal storytelling but remains an extraordinarily realistic read, in the sense that even the most solid realities of life—and death—tend to blur and shimmer at their raw edges. The talkative bird that…
- Morgan Parker
Morgan Parker is a poet, essayist, and novelist. She is the author of the young adult novel Who Put This Song On? ; and the poetry collections Other People’s Comfort Keeps Me Up At Night , There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé , and…