This week we're joined by MMA journalist and the author of the book Why We Fight, Josh Rosenblatt. Josh talks about the MMA writing landscape in the 21st century, the aesthetics of the inevitable, and the gathering of the tribe at the MMA Media Symposium.

This week's podcast is a "both/and" exploration of painting and progress - creative and civic - with Nashville native, Omari Booker. Follow Omari on IG: https://www.instagram.com/omaribooker/

Martial arts analyst, commentator, and king of the one minute breakdown Robin Black makes his victorious return to the Art Fight Podcast. We talk about the evolution of language in fight analysis and commentary, the rise of Lethwei, and the creative power of uncertainty. Follow Robin on IG: https://www.instagram.com/robinblackmartialarts/ Subscribe to Robin on YT: https://www.youtube.com/robinblack

What is it like to be playing in front of 60,000 people at Lollapalooza and feel like you would rather be doing your taxes? Artists often have to have many hills to climb, so why not make it Kilimanjaro instead? We hang with Jared Reynolds - bassist for many music institutions including most notably Ben Folds, and talk about endurance running, music, Nashville studios, real estate, transformation, and all kinds of goofy shit.

Jim Cammack, for more than 30 years, has been the bassist for the most seminal and important living jazz artist - Ahmad Jamal. Jim sat down with Brian Siskind to have a conversation on 1950's creativity and nostalgia, stop motion animation, horror films, and of course - what it is like to be a part of one of the most prolific and important jazz groups of all time. Explore Jim's extensive discography here: https://www.discogs.com/artist/349691-James-Cammack?filter_anv=0&subtype=Instruments-Performance&type=Credits Buy Jim's music and learn more here: http://www.jimcammack.com/html/

Mike Calway-Fagen, Curator and Director of Exhibitions for Stove Works, is an artist, writer, and curator based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mike joins us and talks about his practice, the southern identity in art, navigating ghosts and the paranormal in art spaces, and breaks down the upcoming Stove Works benefit BODY SLAM! - an evening of art and revelry... with live wrestling!? Follow Stove Works on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stove_works Learn more about Stove Works and get tickets for BODY SLAM! at: https://www.stoveworks.org/

The GOAT of MMA writing Chuck Mindenhall of The Athletic joins us to talk about the importance of world-building in MMA storytelling, the levity of writing about fighting, the future of MMA media, and wrestling with the responsibility required for realizing his herculean dream of writing a book to the standard of Liebling's 'The Sweet Science' for Mixed Martial Arts. Follow Chuck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChuckMindenhall Read Chuck's work on The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/author/chuck-mindenhall/

Kool Keith aka Dr. Octagon, Dr. Dooom, Black Elvis, and many more names joins Brian Siskind for a conversation on navigating the past, present, and future in music, beats and production, and basketball. Keith walks through working with Bill Laswell, Automator, how the cover art for Sex Style came to be legend, why money makes people lose all perspective, and talks about his new record "KEITH". Follow Kool Keith on Twitter: https://twitter.com/UltraMan7000

This week we hang with artist Amber Lelli and talk about the bronze postmodern future, and the values of creative freedom.  Follow Amber on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberlelliart/

We have a fun and irreverent hang with artist Brian Wooden this week for all you glorious freaks.  We rap about flow state, the necessity of comedy in culture, process in illustration and street art, and how skateboarding aligns the body and soul. Follow Brian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianwooden

This week we get in the ring with NWA professional wrestler and spiritual prophet, Jocephus. He teaches us the ropes about powerbombing cosmic consciousness into faithful fans while also working as a music educator and filmmaker. Follow Jocephus on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jocephusnwa and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jocephusnwa/

This week we connect with professor Nancy Ann Kidder to talk about her course at American University - Writing and Fighting. We touch on combat sports literature, the power of fight narratives, how fighting is a vehicle for understanding issues from gender equality to geopolitics, and why Nick Newell always finds a way to make us cry. Follow Nancy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NancyAnnKidder Learn more about the Writing and Fighting course at: https://www.writeandfight.com/

After a week off, we are back in the clinch with Nashville painter Jodi Hays.  We talk about Jodi's exhibition at Red Arrow Gallery in Nashville, the joys of giant paintings, and the pros and cons of a growing art scene.

How do you attend the Nashville Art Crawl like a pro? How did Tarantino botch Bruce Lee's legacy in his new film? Is contemporary sculpture absurd? Can you have an art gallery in your house? We answer these questions and talk about our latest projects and exhibits on this week's episode. Follow Joe Nolan: www.instagram.com/mightyjoenolan Follow Brian Siskind: www.instagram.com/thosedrones

Video artist, performance artist, painter, and circuit bender Sophia Gordon-Stevens talks about bending video, the magic of VHS, video art as an object, and how she balances her mental health through creating her Miller's Grove Public Access project - that you can be a part of. Learn more about Sophia and her Miller's Grove Public Access exhibition channel at www.sophiagordonart.com/ 

Jon Sewell is Nashville's most Progressive mayoral candidate. Jon joins us to talk  politics, theater, political theater, smears, jeers, smoke and mirrors in the very last episode of Season 5. Follow Jon on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/thejonse 

Breaking in the new studio! T-Rex fossils, street art, graffiti, Nashville art scene, alligators, art shows, and mucking about reality with Chris Zidek.

David King hangs with us while it is storming outside loudly and talks with us about Extended Play Press. Extended Play is an independent publisher based in Nashville making books in collaboration with local and regional artists. The books are unique and specific pieces - the result of a research process into individual artist practices and the book form. They are produced using a mix of contemporary and traditional printing techniques. 

This week we rap with artist and educator Rocky Horton about his self-declared artist residency, Nashville's worst sculpture off I-65, innovation avoidance, and making art at home. 

This week we sit down with Nashville artist Erin Murphy. Erin talks about drawing art out of the natural environment, curiosity in creativity, and how to learn Norwegian in two months or at least look sporty trying. 

This week we hang with artist, curator, provacateur Andres Bustamente. He tells us about growing up as a young refugee, how street art saved his life, and why he fights to make art for himself and his community.

Mr. Regular, The Roman, and Tony Airlines drop into Nashville, sit down in an electric blue carpeted hotel meeting room, and ponder: nostalgia and the words of Samuel Hines, how "a car deposits you in the era of your best self", the perils of Charles Bukowski, the power of having heroes like Bruce Henn, and how sitting on your words for a month makes for a better car review. Watch RCR on YouTube Follow RCR on Twitter Follow Tony Airlines on IG

Have you heard about the Tennessee Triennial? Artist, educator and curator Brian Jobe talks Locate Arts, the new Tennessee Triennial, and the big picture for regional art scenes.

Join us as we sit down with artist and educator Thomas Sturgill. Swim after this deep dive into:  art/life balance; achievement, awards; and value; and why Sturgill is the number one artist, but not really. 

This week we host Taylor Alexander of NBC's The Voice.  Taylor talks us through the making of his new album, wonders aloud at the definition of "Country," and puts his extra large coffee in a guillotine choke while ranting about his love of jiu-jitsu and his new blue belt. OSS! Follow Taylor on Instagram @tayloralexandermusic Website www.iamtayloralexander.com

WPLN Nashville Public Radio afternoon host Natasha Senjanovic stops by the studio this week. We chat about film culture, hard news vs. soft news, radio as performance - and the otherworldly phenomena of listeners saying her name aloud along with her.

This week we hang with Nashville native, Kurdish-American artist, Nuveen Barwari. We talk about the protective power of the Evil Eye, the challenges and joys of growing up in two worlds, and why she's not waiting for diversity to catch up with her dreams. 

This week we celebrate the end of our 4th season with regular guest and friend of the show, artist Chris Zidek. We talk NYC, female MMA fighter greatness, translating street art into gallery spaces, and we answer our weirdest batch of voicemail messages yet. 

MMA fighter and Legion Jiu Jitsu coach Logan Nash joins us to talk about his upcoming Jonathan Ivey Featherweight title fight, the UFC Nashville event, the creative mindset required for training in the martial arts, and how he became internet famous for hanging like a bat on the cage after his last victory.

Janet O'Shea is a Professor of World Arts and Cultures/Dance at UCLA , and author of the new book Risk, Failure, Play. She joins us to talk the importance of play, improvisation, and why winning is overrated. Through movement, martial arts, and expression, combat is her vehicle for knowledge and creativity.

This week we sit down with Nashville artist and filmmaker Marlos E'van. E'van fills us in on his new cookbook project, the Night Shift Network variety show web series, how to say I'm sorry with sculpture, and his thoughts on Tyron Woodley vs. Kamaru Usman and Canelo Alvarez vs.Daniel Jacobs.

This week we're joined by Nashville artist, Lindsy Davis. Davis breaks down her psychedelic art exhibition at Fort Houston., talks about hitting her heavy bag, and champions mystery in social media self-promotion. 

Warriors in the music business, tech, branding, and fighting the good fight for creatives - Ernest and Mark are storied figures in Nashville who are making waves across multiple sectors. We hang and answer your questions on how artists are getting screwed, the imminent nature of tech and change, licensing, marketing, and cannabis coming to Tennessee.

Paul Horton is the man behind the keys for the Alabama Shakes and a founding member of the experimental music ensemble Concurrence. Horton brings his No Stress philosophy to Art Fight to talk about balancing work and family, maintaining a creative practice on the road, and the North Nashville music Mecca that might have been. 

This week we hang with Nashville MMA kickboxer Andrea Leese. Andrea talks about preparing for her upcoming bout, her traditional martial arts roots, and why she loves to fight like a girl.

This week we step into the cage with Nashville-based artist and podcaster, Zach Duensing. Zach schools us on the weird world of fan fiction, gives us the lowdown on his visionary comic book project, and gets us up to speed before the next season of his Fan/Fiction podcast.  https://weownthistown.net/shows/fan-fiction-andrew-zach/ https://zachduensing.com/

This week we meet up with Nashville-based novelist, short story author and Brazilian jiu-jitsu grappler Adam Ross. Ross is the new editor of the Sewanee Review -- the University of the South’s journal is the oldest literary quarterly in continuous publication in the United States. Ross speaks to the push and pull between writerly tradition and innovation. He also recalls the grind of high school wrestling, and illuminates the creativity we express when we approach grappling with an artist’s mind.  https://thesewaneereview.com/ https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/cover-story/article/21037490/flow-with-the-go-artista-brazilian-jiujitsu-is-a-window-into-the-future-of-nashville https://www.artistabjjnashville.com/

Artist and creator of MMA² comics Chris Rini joins us to talk the art of comic illustrations, MMA culture commentary, and the evolving MMA archetypes as they develop in a young and growing sport. We also all agreed that Nate Diaz is an oracle.

Get to know a new and strong female voice in MMA media - meet Amanda Sanchez of Unknown MMA.

Artist, designer, and Jiu Jitsu practitioner Steph Mantis joins us to talk about creating her Forever Pizza empire, Dog Butt Magnets, and creative whimsy for all to enjoy. 

Sean Patton is the co-founder of Legion Jiu Jitsu, a coach, and a competitive submission grappler. Patton stopped by the Art Fight studio to talk about "stress inoculation" and the martial arts, the importance of leading by example, and the opening of the brand new Legion Jiu Jitsu location in East Nashville.

Undefeated Pro MMA fighter Irvin Jones joins us to talk the creativity and challenges in MMA, boxing, and how he gets into a flow state during combat.

Songwriter and Photo Ops music creator Terry Price talks making music in LA, Nashville, and the challenge of producing records. Nashville harmonica/lap steel man Jason Goforth guests and shares some found cassettes from an amusement park singalong booth.

Good hang with friend of the podcast, artist and muralist Chris Zidek - who knows a lot more about crop circles than most people. Our conversation takes you from pre-Egyptian history to the gluten-free era, with lots of random stops along the way.

Carrie Cameron hangs with us and talks the creativity in the tattoo arts, what it's like to be on reality TV, and ponders all the reasons people want to get a tattoo.

This week we're joined by the one and only Robin Black! Robin is a lifelong martial artist, a musician and singer, a former competitive fighter, and one of the most unique voices in contemporary mixed martial arts commentary and analysis. Robin joins us on the phone from the streets of Toronto, Canada to talk about how we talk about contemporary mixed martial arts, what we see at the evolving edge of the sport, and how his creative, insightful approach to talking about combat helped to inspire the Art Fight Podcast.

Songwriter, artist, and Nashville Public Radio digital man Mack Starks walks us down his path from early music industry success, artistic and human self discovery, and bringing it all together today with a new studio, and new outlook on creating.

Enjoy our long form with musician, writer, and creative engine and friend James "Roto" Rotondi - a New York/Nashville musician, actor, journalist and critic; he's the former Editor-in-Chief of Future Music magazine, and his interviews and essays have appeared in Spin, Rolling Stone, Guitar Player, Mojo, and The Boston Phoenix, among others. As a musician, aka Roto; he is guitarist for Hundred Hounds; also plays w/The Cringe; ex-Air, Mr Bungle, and works with The Grassy Knoll and Spy Empire.

Is academic fine art something to learn, and then unlearn? Brandon Donahue creates by collecting and transforming with airbrush and sculpture mass-produced, publicly displayed, and abandoned urban forms like fallen street signs, basketballs, file cabinets, and hubcaps. Brandon works in the traditions of folk art, hip hop, graffiti art and occupies a space between low and high art culture.

Writer, Director, and Producer Jay Dasgupta joins us to talk the perils and rewards in filmmaking, and gives insight into producing the new documentary about aerialist High Flying Jade, directed by his girlfriend Katherine Sweetman on location in Viet Nam with the Ho Chi Minh City Circus.

Crappy Magic is an enterprise by artist David Hellams. It encompasses both Crappy Magic magazine, and the interactive exhibition series The Crappy Magic Experience. These projects work to imbue found objects with creative energy using various media: photography, self-publishing, video, installation, performance, and more.

We answer your questions, talk strategies for creative progress through looking at or into other pursuits, and break down our biggest artistic obstacles going into Season 3.

Nashville music artist, educator, and boundary pusher talks the struggle of being an authentic artist while time jumping, genre shifting, finding her voice, and using it to having conversations with herself from 10 years ago.

Forty-five years after his sudden death at age thirty-two, bestselling author Matthew Polly has written the first authoritative biography of Bruce Lee’s life. A Princeton graduate and Rhodes Scholar, his writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Esquire, Slate, Playboy, and The Nation. He is a fellow at Yale University.

Performance artist Michelle Brown aka @thefakehizofo uses her native Nashville as a canvas for activations, installations, happenings, and placemaking in the seemingly ordinary or forgotten places.

Rising prospect Sena “African Assassin” Agbeko speaks on his journey in boxing from Ghana to the US, the joy and struggle on the way to making to the mainstream, and his creative side as a novelist.

Muralist and fine artist Chris Zidek takes us through his process, the challenges that come with his style, and breaks the big news of his upcoming solo show in Brooklyn. We also talked a lot about cars.

Joe and Brian talk artist residencies, creating music in the studio, and realize mid-podcast both Joe and Brian are speaking at the same Pecha Kucha event at the Frist Art Museum.

Producer and Creative Director Steven Knapp talks the thrills and perils of filmmaking, content, film festivals, and how boxing and running are vehicles for understanding what's happening in your life.

Zen and the freelance lifestyle, 3D printing, AR, VR, wrestling competition stories... JWall has it all for us on this episode!

Like a storm front, James Perrin’s chaotic, densely textured canvases crackle with energy. The acclaimed Nashville artist deftly blends several modes of painting, including abstraction, realism and expressionism, and incorporates a vast array of imagery into his work, from CT scans and segments of classic paintings to photographs of retail spaces and his own personal life. (from The Tennessean)

Photographer Michael Weintrob joins us to talk about his traveling exhibition 'Instrumenthead' and shares stories he has lived photographing hundreds of the most iconic, legendary musicians and artists in the world.

One of the most influential and creative drummers in music history, Michael Shrieve talks with us about training and retraining how to play drums with age, the challenges of the music business, and the opportunities in music and technology that keep him inspired and learning.

We hang with Ben Powers, a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, and talk cerebral approaches to problem solving in combat, art, and life - and how to "gracefully bail" to work smarter, not harder.

We hang with old friend, master bass player/artist, Travis Vance to talk life on the road with Thomas Rhett, the strange quiet of playing stadium shows, and talk about what made Nashville special 15 years ago.

Johnathan Ivey's Cage Fighting Championships Welterweight champ Donovan Salvato comes by and talks with us about his upcoming bout, what fighting life is like, and how we became the champ.

Logan Nash talks about the creativity in Jiu Jitsu, his upcoming bout, and the latest in combat sports.

Feat. Mike Kluge, a multimedia artist based out of Queen Ave Art Collective in East Nashville, TN and Joe Nolan returns!

Nathan Brown is a muralist, known for his large scale geometric gradients, word collages and plantlike organic line work. Eva Boros is a curator, writer, and champion of street art and co-founder of the Nashville Walls Project.

Brian and Joe talk fights - everything from Max Holloway, Luke Sanders, and other fighters as well as new song releases, one of a kind art print books, creativity and the need to press forward.

Catching up with saxophonist, photographer, and teacher Jeff Coffin about playing with Dave Matthews Band, his experience playing with icons like Stevie Wonder, the creative process, making records, music, and life.

Meet Brian Greif of Netflix's "Saving Banksy", Chris Zidek, and Jon Buko - all street artists and mural makers currently working on a 400 foot mural in Nashville’s booming west side - The Nations.

This week we sit down with Nashville musician and competitive Muay Thai kickboxer, Ashley Burns.

Nieves Uhl talks about Nashville's printmaking culture, her love of hands-on art making, the role that art can play in fighting for social justice, and her love of martial arts which she discovered as a teen at a Muay Thai gym in Albuquerque, NM.

Joe Nolan and Brian Siskind introduce the podcast and break down the fight in art and the art in fighting, and explore the parallels in creativity, struggle, and expression.