Back On The Grind

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Understanding Friendship Pt.1 w/ Folk Punk Dad & Pepe Bandit #82

In this conversation, Pepe Bandit and Folk Punk Dad explore the multifaceted nature of friendship, discussing its importance, the challenges of making friends, and the dy

Oct 15
58 min

Running, Magic, DIY Music & Coffee Roasting w/ John Cozz #81

Pepe Bandit sits down with fellow coffee roaster and DIY lifer John Cozz of Cozz Coffee for a wide-ranging conversation on running, magic, and lessons learned. They trace

Oct 1
1 h 01 min

Bonus Episode: Jesse Sendejas (Days N' Days / Escape From the Zoo) On 1 Year Sober & New Solo Music!!!

To honor Jesse's one year of sobriety today, I invited him on the pod for a quick bonus episode. We talk about what this milestone means to him and some new comforts he

Sep 17
11 min

Going On Your First DIY Tour w/ Tape And Tears #80

Tape and Tears join Pepe Bandit to talk about their first DIY tour & everything that comes with learning it on the fly, from forgetting to count merch money until they we

Sep 15
58 min

The Tragedy Of The Commons w/ Ruen #79

In this episode, Pepe Bandit talks with members of the band Ruen. They start with fire — how a century of replacing Portugal's natural forests with pine and eucalyptus mo

Sep 1
54 min

Jimmy of The Looms Reflects on the Pigeon Pit Episode (personal authority, DIY shows, spirituality & much more) #78

Jimmy of The Looms joins Pepe to revisit personal authority, DIY shows, and spirituality from the earlier Lomes of Pigeon Pit episode. From there, they open into new terr

Aug 15
1 h 10 min

Finding Hope w/ Yell At God #77

Yell At God — the Philly-based folk punk band sits down with Pepe Bandit for a deep dive into hope. First they start with the dichotomy of touring: the exhaustion of the

Aug 1
1 h 06 min

Lomes of Pigeon Pit — The Alchemy Of Song Writing, Personal Authority, LSD, Spiritual Anarchism & DIY Shows #76

Lomes of Pigeon Pit, joins Pepe Bandit for an unguarded conversation that starts with songwriting as alchemy — puking out the fucked-up parts of the world and finding gol

Jul 15
58 min

Amy of Evil Robot Us' — Folk Punk, Libraries, & the Liberation of Children #75

Amy fronted Evil Robot Us' a DIY folk punk band out of Buffalo that shared its first bill with Against Me! and later toured and recorded with Erik Petersen — but this sto

Jul 1
1 h 05 min

Queer Rap & The Cancel Culture Blues w/Chris Conde #74

Pepe Bandit & Chris Conde discuss queer identity & expression through music. Chris addresses the discomforts that can arise in early personal life & performances around t

Jun 15
56 min

Bonus Episode - Stoop Fest!!! Three Different Views

A bonus episode that explores 3 different perspectives (audience member / band / organizer)from this years STOOP FEST! We play Pathétique by Frog Legs at the end. First

Jun 9
53 min

Addiction & Recovery Q&A w/ Early Brunner of Recovery Demystified #73

*** If you need to support a friend, loved one, or yourself...You can call, text, or chat with a 988 Lifeline counselor for help during difficult moments anytime, day or

Jun 1
1 h 14 min

From Pat The Bunny to Friends In Real Life: Patrick Schneeweis & Pepe Bandit Discuss A Two Decade Musical Journey & Friendship #72

Pat almost refused to do this. Before we even hit record, he told me he had a strong feeling this interview shouldn’t happen. We gave it a shot anyway. What came out

May 15
58 min

From Train Hopping To Healing Trauma Through Internal Work w/ Early Brunner #71

Pepe talks to Early Brunner who shares their journey through the punk community & train hopping to exploring themes of addiction/recovery, & the quest for freedom. They d

May 1
1 h 00 min

From Blending Genres To Exploring Existential Death In Small Town Georgia w/ Chris Casey #70

Pepe talks with Chris Casey—an innovative voice blending alternative rap with grungy rock music. Chris takes us on a musical journey from basement shows of local hardcor

Apr 15
52 min

The Random Show w/ Mike Wilson (of Harley Poe) - Sharing The Thoughts In Our Head #69

Pepe reaches out to his buddy Mike Wilson to have a regular, friend to friend discussion as if they were't on a podcast (except they are). Expect to hear about anxiety ar

Apr 1
54 min

The Forest Is The Trees w/ Endless Mike & The Beagle Club #68

Pepe embarks on an exploration with Endless Mike And The Beagle Club as they walk through their latest album, The Forest Is The Trees. Unlock the intimate thoughts behin

Mar 15
52 min

A History Of Folk Punk & It's Connection To Anarchism w/ shugE & Pepe Bandit #67

shugE and Pepe Bandit explore the often nuanced relationship between anarchism and folk punk music, tracing their historical connections and evolution. The discussion hig

Mar 1
54 min

An Open Conversation About Disability & Accessibility In The Scene W/ Porch Cat #66

Pepe talks with Chan & Emily from Porch Cat to discuss their experiences with disability & accessibility within the folk punk community. They share personal stories about

Feb 15
52 min

From The Trail Of Tears To Touring All 50 States w/ A Day Without Love #65

Pepe talks to A day Without Love (Brian Walker) who shares the profound impact of personal history, particularly the Trail Of Tears & its connection to the 50-state tour

Feb 1
58 min

Chart trend

Position in the Music Interviews chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#96#191JulAugSepOct

#26

all-time peak

days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where Back On The Grind ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 20, 2026).

#155 NEW Music Interviews US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

Way more interesting than the typical music podcast. Calling it a music podcast is selling it short. Original and honest feel. Folk punk and prison is a surprising theme of the show. Looking forward to more of this.

Little Brother...1984 · Nov 2025

You know- I’m REALLY not great at reviews, but I know how much they can mean to someone running a business or a podcast or whatever it is they are doing. When I heard Pepe mention following and reviewing the podcast it made me think about what this podcast has actually done for me personally. I went through great loss and addiction and when I hit the road and became closer to the diy punk scene it was to heal. It hurt me and healed me in different ways, but life is about balance. Pepe reminds me I’m alive, reminds me it’s not too late. Taught me to embrace my fear and use it to fuel that excitement I still have. Anyways, here I am rambling! This podcast is great. It opens your eyes to different viewpoints, makes ya feel safe, encourages you, inspires you and so much more. Now go listen to it already.

Momma.geZMo · Sep 2025

There’s a lot of darkness out there right now. Listening to Pepe every week fostering positivity, compassion, and community through conversations with our favorite artists and musicians is a breath of fresh air.

diy-revolutionary · May 2025

As someone who wasn’t around/alive during the early days of folk punk, this podcast has really given me a new appreciation for the genre. Pepe is a great host, and his knowledge of bands and the history of the music is really impressive. Also, I listened to a lot of Back on the Grind while painfully recovering from eye surgery, and it definitely helped. If you’re looking for somewhere to start, I would check out the three episodes on the Johnny Hobo days. If you like folk punk, you’ve probably listened to Pat, and PePe has some great stories from the early days of his career. All love to Pepe and everyone he’s had on the podcast!

Alltheothersgottaken · May 2025

One of the only podcasts that I actively look forward to listening every 1st and 15th. I originally found this show one day when I randomly searched for Ceschi on Spotify and was recommended his episode. I’ve listened to every episode since (some more than once). Pepe does an incredible job whether it’s a solo episode or he has a guest. The episodes that you didn’t think I’d connect to end up being some of my favorites. If I had to suggest just one episode to check out I would say the PT Burnem episode. I would also highly recommend checking out the Patreon for even more content and unedited episodes. I promise even if you’re not big into the Folk punk scene you will enjoy this podcast!

allisonrose1 · Jul 2025

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.