Robert Dean is a journalist, raconteur, and self-proclaimed “enlightened dumbass”. His work has been featured in places like MIC, Eater, Fatherly, Yahoo, Austin American-Statesman, Consequence of Sound, Ozy, USA Today, to name a few. He’s appeared on CNN and NPR and has served as a features writer for Hussy Magazine, Culture Clash, Pepper Magazine, as well as acting as editor in chief for Big Laugh Comedy, Texas’ premier comedy production company. He currently resides in Austin, TX.
This podcast is from March 2023, at the onset of Robert’s book, Existential Thirst Trap. We discuss the book, music, politics, New Orleans, pitfalls, art and more. Robert tells us about his influences, his experiences and struggles as a freelance writer, and about his journey from Chicago to New Orleans and eventually to Austin.
Robert is a skilled raconteur with plenty of juicy anecdotes throughout his book. He craft-fully draws in the reader with grimy stories from his days just off Bourbon Street in the dark corners of New Orleans’ French Quarter, but then invites one into a far more personal side of himself and the human experience. You’ll not only learn about the author, but will possibly find yourself on a journey of self-analysis. Existential Thirst Trap is a quick read, broken down into short essays. It’s amusing and often hilarious, but also enlightening, engaging and powerful. You can buy Robert’s book HERE.
For more on Robert Dean: Instagram | Facebook
Eclectic Soundtrax Podcast Links: YouTube | Instagram | Facebook
Check out Eclectic Soundtrax Podcast artist PLAYLIST
About the podcasters
Skunk Manhattan:
Skunk is a musician, primarily known as the frontman and guitarist for eclectic heavy-rock band A Good Rogering. Since moving to Austin in 2004, he has recorded and performed with a wide variety of bands and solo artists over a career spanning more than 20 years and has shared the stage with notable acts, such as Skid Row, Marty Friedman, Uli Jon Roth, George Lynch and Metal Church among others. Skunk not only works as a performing musician and recording artist, but also as a producer and music teacher. With two decades of insight into what it means to be a professional musician and a passion for not only music, but comedy and general chatter, Skunk was quick to jump at the opportunity to co-host a podcast with longtime friend, Victor Ramos.
Victor Ramos:
A Texas native, Victor’s early musical influences are a mixture of classic rock albums played by his Vietnam vet father and a whole lot of ‘the Fab Four’ via his Beatles-loving mother. Sprinkle in some classic country and Motown, and you have a man that would say “¿que?” when other Tejanos would ask what his favorite cumbia was. After a stint in the Marines, Victor moved to Austin in 2000 and began working in the tech industry. He met Skunk in a Spanish class in 2005 and the two discovered a shared passion for not only beer, but music. After years of collectively attending concerts and talking music, the idea to start a podcast centering around such topics seemed like a logical endeavor.
Share this article
or
Get music updates in your inbox