Episode 374

with John Hodgman, RJ Young, Fabi Reyna, and Savila

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello discuss the significance of “Hand-Me-Downs”… namely, Luke’s childhood stirrup jeans; author and humorist John Hodgman recounts how inheriting his mother’s vacation home led him into the wilderness of homeownership; writer RJ Young explains how he got immersed in the world of race, guns, and self-protection after being gifted a pistol from his father-in-law; musician Fabi Reyna shares why she launched She Shreds – the only magazine devoted to female guitarists; and Cumbia/Latin band Sávila perform “La Danza.”

John Hodgman
Author and Humorist

John Hodgman is carving a comedic path through the dramatic wilds of middle-age. The New York Times bestselling author’s first memoir, Vacationland, uses his trademark whip smart humor to cover topics like the evolutionary purpose of the mustache, why humans should not eat clams, and accepting the fact that someday he will die. Hodgman performs comedy across the country, hosts the popular "Judge Hodgman" podcast, where he settles serious disputes between real people, and contributes a weekly column under the same name for The New York Times Magazine. With Hodgman as our guide, we’re all aboard for a fascinating and profound trip through the metaphorical forest of mid-life. Website • Twitter

RJ Young
Writer

RJ Young is coming IN with a bang. His new memoir, Let It Bang, details his journey as a young black man learning to shoot in America - a fascinating take on race, guns, and self-protection in our current society. Already an award-winning journalist, Young uses his own “unexpected obsession” with getting good at shooting to expose deeper issues like the cycle of white fear, white violence, and black fear, as well as the rise in gun ownership among black Americans – especially women. Young is shooting at some of the hardest-to-hit cultural targets in our country, and his aim is true. Website • Twitter

Fabi Reyna
Musician

Fabi Reyna is Mexican-born, Texas-raised, and an all-around badass. She’s the founder and CEO of She Shreds Magazine, the world’s first and only print publication dedicated to women guitarists and bassists. Originally a small zine, She Shreds is now a media company with distribution in 28 countries, a strong digital presence, and a print circulation of over 40,000. Reyna’s work as a community builder has created a respectful and revolutionary space that transcends both gender and genre. Website • Twitter

Sávila
Cumbia/Latin Band

Sávila: (1) a medicinal plant that grows wild around the world; (2) the wonderfully apt name of the world/cumbia/Latin/R&B inspired music and visual art project by guitarist Fabi Reyna, vocalist Brisa Gonzalez, and percussionist Papi Fimbres. For six years, Reyna and Gonzalez have been exploring the experience of being Mexican-American womxn and artists in the United States as a source of inspiration for their activism, performance, and art. Joined by Fimbres in 2016, the trio solidified their sound, continued bringing together the latinx community, and now bring their multi-faceted talents to a series of collaborations. Let Sávila’s scorching sound be a balm for your musical soul. Listen • Insta