I Am Your Friend

52 episodes. That means the I Am Your Friend fiscal year is complete. Can't believe it only took 3 years. Anyway, my brother, Brendan is on the pod today. We discuss a lot of childhood memories, and growing up so close, yet being entirely different.

Our friend, Virginia is here! Virginia is one of my closest friends and while we have bonded over a lot of things over the years, movies have always been at the forefront of our discussions. We love movies! Do you? Hope so! That's all we're talkin about today.

50 episodes!? I hardly know er! I took a look back at episode 1 to see how far we've come. I discuss some gained perspective on years lossed during the pandemic and feeling like a late bloomer. I also theorize the future of social media. Have a good coffee with this episode for me!

I'm anxious about the Buffalo Bills. We'll see how I feel once this episode is out. I discuss my relationship with sports fandom and get into my conflicting views on policing language, as well as the future of this podcast.

We're still hangin in the new year vibes. It's January. It's cold, it's dark. We're sitting back and relaxing. We're getting organized, we're resetting, and we're looking back on the our lives, and then we'll continue to move forward.

Happy new year! Our friend Max is back and the two of us discuss our holiday experiences and our first year in New York City.

Our friend, Zach Dietsch is here! Zach is a comedian from Buffalo who recently moved to New York City from Chicago. We talk going home for the holidays, dating apps, and growing up. At the end, we get into our favorite parts of the holidays. This episode is littered with hilarity, awkwardness, and painful self-awareness.

Happy holidays friends! This episode is all about getting into the holiday spirit and filling up with childhood-like wonder. I discuss my holiday season in NYC experience and upcoming holiday plans.

It's the holiday season. I'm travelin. You're travelin. Lots to think about. I reflect on my thanksgiving travels, and how leaving the big city makes me appreciate it more. We get into things that make us human and how the current world corrupts that. Have we gone too far with technology? On one hand, I can bring you this podcast, on another, everything is goin to shit. Happy holidays!

Thanksgiving episode spectacular... I mean, not that spectacular, but totally fine! Just a quick solo episode where I tell you somethings I'm grateful for and the benefits of showing gratitude. I also discuss things like emotional intelligence among men and how I think we fix it (maybe).

Sam Minney is back! Our first repeat guest on I Am Your Friend. Sam has lived in Austin, TX for a year now pursuing standup comedy. She turned 26 on the day we recorded this, and we celebrate over mimosas!

Fresh new solo ep! We dig deep in this one discussing topics from battling seasonal depression and imposter syndrome to our current geopolitical climate and the systems holding us back from doing what we want. Towards the end, I weigh in on why I think dating in 2023 is such a mess. As always, maybe I'm wrong! See ya next week.

Solo ep! Let's respond to your instagram responses and talk a lot about music, moon phases, wizards, iced chai, and daily routines.

Happy Halloween, friends! I recap my Halloween weekend before bringing you back in time to December 2022 where I sat down with my friend, Jake Samson. Jake is a comedian from Buffalo, NY who won Helium Comedy Club's 2022 Buffalo's Funniest contest. Jake co-hosts the Rust Belt Comedy open mic at Nietzsche's every Tuesday, where I did my first standup set. Jake and I discuss growing up Catholic, getting into comedy, our favorite drugs, and our favorite movies.

My friend, Brendan Orr, is the lead vocalist of Buffalo-based indie rock band, Canetis, who have just released their EP, "On All That's Real," streaming everywhere now. Brendan stopped by to talk about making the new record stressing the importance of being honest and vulnerable in your art. We get into managing our egos and our need for strong creative communities.

The I Am Your Friend podcast has returned! First episode since I moved to New York City. I let you in on the things going on in my brain since we last spoke over a year ago. Life changes, risk taking, personal growth, reflection, social issues, religion, and purpose! Packed a lot into this one, and it was a little rocky for my first time back, but I'm only human! That's the whole point.

Episode 36 - Had some guest cancellations, so you're stuck with just me this week! I discuss my recent travels, a new book I'm reading (listening to), and I answer your questions submitted on Instagram. Thank you to everyone who wrote in. We get deep into good & evil, morality, grief, my personal journeys, what not to eat at a movie theater, and more. Follow me on social media - @aidnlckr

Episode 35 - Buffalo comedy sensation, Sam Minney joins us today to drink sparkling red wine and discuss her recent ventures to rural Ohio for the Gathering of the Juggalos. No, seriously. She went. We also talk indie movies, bands we love that got canceled, credit scores, college, and of course, comedy. Sam is moving to Austin, Texas soon to be like her hero, Joe Rogan (jk). She will be missed, and we wish her well in her future endeavors! Follow Sam on IG and Twitter - @htlsam Follow me on Twitter, IG, and TikTok - @aidnlckr

Episode 34 - Our friend Christine joins us today to discuss a bunch of cool things. Christine is a mental health therapist on the road to completing her masters, a theatrical actress, and overall a super cool person. We spend a bulk of the episode talking about mental health, answering audience submitted questions. We also talk a lot about socioeconomics, acting/performing, and a rare condition called synesthesia. Thank you to everyone who submitted questions for Christine! Write in to the podcast - linktr.ee/aidnlckr Follow Christine on IG - @lilyoftherally Follow me on IG, Twitter, and TikTok - @aidnlckr

Episode 33 - Our friend Max is here! Max is a standup comedian from Buffalo who started his standup career while abroad in Spain in February of 2020. Then, some stuff happened, and he lost his mind. You know the story. Anyway, now he's back in Buffalo where I have spent an immense amount of time with him in the local standup scene. Max and I talk about anxiety and the difference in performing music vs comedy. We talk about skateboarding for an insane amount of time. Too much. I'll say too much time. We talk about our histories with drinking and not drinking, and share some stories with medical procedures. We finish out the episode with Max telling us about his journeys in Europe, talking about our up & coming podcast we're starting, and shows to promote. Follow Max on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok - @MaxKaczor Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok - @aidnlckr

Episode 32 - Surprise! It's (just) me, again. Dawgs, my life is insane right now. On today's episode, I give you an update into my life and I share some recommendations and ideas I've been thinking about. Hope you enjoy! Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok - @aidnlckr

Episode 31 - Our friend Abby is in town from the big apple! Abby and I have been close friends since college and now she resides in New York City running her own event planning business. She came through today to discuss taking the risk of quitting her job to start her own business in the extremely competitive market that is New York. We also align very closely on our politics and actions we take in attempt to make the world a better place. I tell her about my internal debate I have on whether to become a New York transplant to live in a more progressive place with like-minded people, or stay here in Buffalo and work to make it a more progressive place. We recorded this episode the day after standing up in our friends' wedding, and reflect on that and go down memory lane for a bit, too. Follow Abby's event planning business on Instagram - @events.byabigail Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok - @aidnlckr

And if I, I don't make it to 30! You tell my mother I'm sorry! .... Sorry about that. Episode 30 - Our friend, Patrick Galante is here! Patrick is the drummer of Ice Nine Kills, Night Rider (fka Affiance), and American Nosebleed. Patrick is also part owner of The Beer Keep where you can catch him every once in a while behind the pine or DJing Metal Night when he's not on tour. Patrick is a lot of things, but most importantly, he's our friend! Patrick and I discuss his most recent tour with Ice Nine Kills including a show in Las Vegas opening for Metallica. We discuss things like our early beginnings as musicians, tour life, veganism, and generosity. This episode ends with Night Rider's cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" that you can stream on any streaming platforms. Follow Patrick on Twitter @PAT_terns , on Instagram & TikTok @patrickgalante Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, & TikTok @aidnlckr

Episode 29 - Today our guest is our friend Sara. Sara is a standup comedian from Buffalo who is getting ready to relocate to New York City. Although Sara and I have known each other a short time, our dry, sarcastic senses of humor caused our friendship to blossom quickly. Sara and I discuss our different approaches to comedy, and how we grew up to become funny people. We jump from topic to topic rather quickly and while you may hear me ask why she is moving multiple times, we never arrive at an answer, and that's what I like about talking to Sara. I still don't know why she's moving there, and it's quite possible I never will, but that's okay. I'm just happy we got to do this before she left. Follow Sara on Twitter and Instagram - @sara_murello Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok - @aidnlckr

Episode 28 - Our friend, David, joins us today to talk in-depth about a lot of things. David and I have known each other for a very long time. We start the episode reflecting on some memories of catholic elementary school and public high school that we both attended. Since those days, David has traveled and lived in places like London and New York City while getting studying psychology. David is also a trained psychic medium. Did I lose you? I hope not. Tune into this episode with an open-mind as there is a lot to take away from it that you may find helpful to how you live your life. These are my favorite episodes of this podcast, and while it is a longer-than-usual one, it's worth getting through. Follow David on IG @phakenews, and his astrology readings on IG @masterteachings Follow me on IG, Twitter, and TikTok - @aidnlckr

Episode 27 - Today we bring on a long-awaited guest, our friend, Jay Zubricky. Jay is a recording engineer that has worked with acts like Every Time I Die, Taking Back Sunday, The Menzingers, Goo Goo Dolls, and James Taylor. Jay sat down to tell us his story on how he landed his dream career. We talk all about recording, playing in bands, going to shows, being straight edge, and the one thing that connects us so deeply - coffee. Follow Jay on Twitter and Instagram - @JayZubricky Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok - @aidnlckr

Episode 26 - Our friend Lexi is here! Lexi is the frontperson for the Buffalo-based hardcore band, Spaced. Although Spaced is a newer band in the scene, their popularity is growing quickly, and their impact is hard to ignore. From DIY shows in parking lots, to opening for Buried Alive and New Found Glory, and getting ready to tour in Europe this summer, Spaced is a force to be reckoned with, and Lexi leads that force. Lexi and I have been friends for around 8 years, and seeing their progression has me feeling so lucky to call her a friend. Lexi and I discuss all things spaced, fun tour stories, dealing with success, and much more! Check out Spaced! IG: @spaced_hc Twitter: @spacedhc Follow me! IG/Twitter/TikTok: @aidnlckr

Episode 25 - We're back, friends! Your buddy Aidan is back to talk about how things have been. The world is bleak, but we carry on. In this episode, I talk about what's in store for season 2 of I Am Your Friend, updates on my creative life, self-realizations, documentaries, and more! Follow me: @aidnlckr on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!

Episode 24 - The season finale! Why!? Why not! Apparently you can have seasons on podcasts, so this is the season 1 finale. In this episode, I reflect on the new year, the holidays, and getting back from tour. I discuss this rut I've been in where I've been feeling totally unmotivated and uninspired, and why that might be. In spirit of the new year, I take the time to re-assess, set some new goals, and go through my annual identity crisis. Of course, we get a little political, talk about this never-ending pandemic, and hopes for better days ahead.Thank you all for the continued support in making this a great first season of something I've always wanted to do. I'll be back soon with a hopefully new and improved setup and tons of new and fun guests for season 2! See ya in the spring! 

Episode 23 - A special episode because for the first time ever, we have TWO guests. Our guests today are Matt and Pat from the band Super American. If you've been listening to the podcast regularly, you've heard me shout out these guys multiple times. Matt and Pat are two close friends of mine that are riding the high of the recently released Super American album, "SUP."Matt and Pat provide a lot of insight to the inner workings of Super American in regards to songwriting, artistry, their relationship with each other, growing as a band and individuals, and trying to keep ideas fresh and exciting. Later, we get into golfing, caveman instincts, shitty jobs, prank phone calls, veganism, names of our future kids, media play, and somehow more. Listen to Super American on all streaming platforms and come see them on tour this November with Hot Mulligan.https://superamericanband.bandcamp.com

Episode 22 - We're back! Took a few weeks off to focus on music-related parts of my life, but am stoked to be back with a very special guest. Our friend, Joey Harkum, is best known for fronting the Baltimore-based indie rock band, Pasadena. Joey has been like a musical big brother to me since I was 14. Joey and I discuss how we stayed creative during the pandemic, the changes in the music industry, trying to keep up with new trends, and our early days of songwriting. Of course, we also tell some good stories about Pasadena shows back when I was a teenager.Joey Harkum is currently on tour with Tropidelic and Bumpin Uglies. 

Episode 21 - Checking in! My life has been crazy lately and I wanted to give you all some updates. We cover the upcoming Post Prom album, live music returning, and Kanye West. Weird mix, I know. Quick episode this week to let y'all know what's going on and we'll be back soon with more guests. 

Episode 20 - Today, we're speaking with our friend, Emma. Emma works in urban development in towns across the state and provides us a lot of great insight into what goes into city planning. We discuss a lot in regards to local politics, COVID-19, current events in Afghanistan, and of course, music. Emma and I both went to college in Fredonia and reminisce about the good-ole-days and also go into details of the comparison of Buffalo and Rochester. I admit, I was feeling a bit manic during this episode. Shout out Emma for talking me off the ledge when I start to lose it. 

Episode 19 - Our friend Grace aka Bev is here! Bev is an amazingly talented hair stylist and colorist at the buffalo-based Crown salon. We share common interest in being passionate music lovers, which is what brought us to be such great friends in a short amount of time. Bev and I discuss growing up in the same town at different times and the music that got us through it. She tells us stories of her father, buffalo music legend, Bruce Moser, and the legacy he left behind. While being one of the biggest Paramore fans I know, Bev tells us the honor of working with Hayley Williams' hair product brand, Good Dye Young. We discuss our shared frustrations of the ongoing pandemic, and the importance of being authentically yourself. Finishing off the episode talking about our favorite thing besides music, pot! 

Episode 18 - Today we have our friend, Chelsea, a friend I met in college who has lived the lives of an on-air radio personality on the former radio station, Alt Buffalo, and being the frontwoman of the bands, Wolf and Stress Dolls. Chelsea and I discuss our different childhood experiences of 9/11 and the early days of online social media. We talk about the music we loved as kids and how we got into performing (lots of talk about Jimmy Eat World and Fall Out Boy). 

Episode 17 - Our guest is our friend, Gwyneth. What's special about this episode is that Gwyneth and I are exes. We were in a romantic relationship for about two years when we were finishing undergrad. Although breakups are never good, through time, willingness, and communication, we made our way back to being friends, and this episode is a shining example of just that. Sharing a bottle of red wine, we share a light and meaningful conversation covering topics like adjusting to life after the pandemic, traveling, coffee, working out, our favorite podcasts, meditation and more. We have tons of technical difficulties towards the end. Apologies for the conversation jumping around. 

Episode 16 - Our friend, Ben, is a professional photographer, videographer, and musician who moved from Buffalo to New York City a few years back. Ben is in town to shoot a music video for my band, Post Prom. On an early Sunday morning following my night out to a church carnival beer tent, Ben and I sip coffee and discuss the life of a creative. We discuss Ben's journey to mastering his craft and reaching success. From working at coffee shops and bars to having a published photo in Times Square, Ben has many stories to tell from following his passion. 

Episode 15 - Today's guest is our friend, Anthony a.k.a. Mewsh. Mewsh is one of my favorite songwriters in Buffalo. He's fronted local favorites such as The Traditional and Mandy K. His most recent project is a new pop/rock band, Genesee Hotel, whose debut EP, "Strawberry" is available on all streaming services. Mewsh and I open with some 4th of July stories, and discuss the West Seneca tradition that is the Queen of Heaven Carnival. Having both grown up in West Seneca, we discuss our similar upbringings, sharing stories of how we started playing music and writing songs. Nostalgia is sprinkled through this entire episode, and it works well with Mewsh's newfound perspective on being a father. 

Episode 14 - A long awaited friend, Charlie, finally returns from a 3-month trip to Utah to share some stories. Charlie tells us a lot about Mormonism, skiing, mountains, and a bunch of other shit that happens in Utah. We talk a lot of shit about Florida too. Per usual, we throw out a lot of shout outs to our homies, and tell some hilarious stories we've collected throughout the years, including how Charlie learned the plural form of moose (spoiler alert: it's moose). Towards the end, we get into the future of Post Prom, some of our favorite books, and our plan to convert me into an outdoorsman. 

Episode 13 - Sorry about no episode last week! Didn't have time. Happens. We're back this week with our friend, TJ! TJ rules. We met a few years back while playing shows together, and share a lot of common interests beyond that. TJ runs a Buffalo Sabres podcast called Between Two Rebuilds, which is partly about the Buffalo Sabres, and mostly about music, which is very much what this episode of I Am Your Friend is as well. TJ and I talk a lot about the misery of being a Buffalo Sabres fan. From there we dive deep into social media, mental health, local politics, and of course, music. 

Episode 12 - Our friend, Greg is a very talented artist, barista, and vocalist, most notably of the Buffalo hardcore band, Bungler. Greg and I compare our experiences with being vocalists and playing in bands. We talk extensively about growing up Catholic, the music that shaped us, our struggles with mental health, and how the pandemic helped radicalize us. 

Episode 11 - Had plans to have a guest, but my weekend was insane and I ran out of time to make it happen. This episode is a mental check-in to let y'all know where I'm at. Things starting to get back to normal has me freaking out a bit, but also has me realizing a lot about how much I've grown since the start of the pandemic. I address some issues I've been having around technology and social media, and some perspective I've gained through things I've watched and experiences I've had. 

Episode 10 - My 21-year-old cousin Luke joins us in a conversation over some beers - a family tradition. After two years attending undergrad, Luke made the decision to bail on education for a bit while he figures out what he wants to do with his life. We share our experiences with psychedelics and how they have helped open our minds to experience more of what life has to offer. We discuss staying informed, entertaining conspiracy theories, the history of our society, and how we carry ourselves as we try to evolve as human beings. We touch on religious followings and extremism, offensive humor, and of course, how the system we reside in is absolutely fucked. 

Episode 9 - Studio upgrade! Our friend, Meg, is a very talented artist, woodworker, welder, and many other things. If it can be made with your hands, Meg can make it, probably. Meg built me a dope studio table for the podcast that can be seen on the video podcast on YouTube. Meg and I discuss our education experiences and how they shaped how we approach our creative endeavors, how societal standards around success and age affect art, as well as trusting in the universe's plan and other things to get us through the day. 

Episode 8 - On this week's episode, our friend, Al, and I dive deep into our leftist views, specifically in regards to labor in the US. Al is an extremely intelligent leftist, and talking with them was an absolute pleasure. We go through high school and college experiences, and how they played into our own radicalizations. If McCarthyism makes a comeback, this episode is going to get us captured for sure. We touch on having tough conversations with family/friends, the importance of activism and education, and where the world is heading. We also have one of the best conversations I've ever had on gender and sexuality. I learned a lot from this conversation, and I hope you do too. 

Episode 7 - Carmen and I have known each other for fifteen years, and although we only get to see each other a couple times a year, I still consider him to be one of the closest friends I have. Because we're so close and have so much history, this episode is packed with stories and laughs. We also discuss the ideas of age and growing up, living in different places, belief systems, and much more. This episode includes an original song at the end that Carmen and I discuss the story of its creation. 

Episode 6 - Our fourth guest is John Vaughan because Charlie Rumfola converted to Mormonism. Didn't think he had it in him. We teach John a new handshake, and talk about things we love like coffee, music, and being huge nerds. John plays bass in Post Prom with me, so we dig into some fun stories around our upcoming album. Don't worry, we also get deep about life and stuff. 

Episode 5 - NERD ALERT!  Our friend, Nick and I are huge nerds, and we give that away right from the jump. Skateboarding, gaming, music. Age, progressivism, masculinity. There's a lot going on here, and you're going to love it. 

Episode 4 - Julie is our friend that's currently in graduate school for school psychology. She teaches us a lot about the pandemic's effect on kids, the psychology of LGBTQ youth, the political awareness of Gen Z, and much more. It's amazing we got through this episode being as hungover and tired as we were, but we made it happen for you because we care. 

Episode 3 - We have a guest! Our friend, Kaya, and I dive deep into an array of topics such as spirituality & religion, and battling the mean voice in our heads. In our longest episode yet, we discuss the journey of self-discovery and the importance of prioritizing your mental health. 

Episode 2 - We hit some bumps in the road that delayed having guests on. So, you've got another 50 minutes of a guy talking to himself. In this episode we tackle social media in regards to mental health and how we can try to make the world a little better. Guests coming next time for sure.