Detoxicity: By Men, About Men, For Everyone

Chris Maestro is the owner and founder of the iconic bar Bierwax. Located in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn, this bar marries two of Chris's loves: craft beer and vinyl. In our discussion, Chris discussed what motivated him to open this space and how he's managed to survive in a very competitive landscape (in a very expensive city to own a business) for almost a decade. This chat also covers Chris's upbringing as the child of two immigrants, the culture clashes he endured as a kid, how religion and metal played significant roles in his adolescent years, and how he manages entrepreneurship with being a husband and a dad.

In this episode, I have a great chat with music industry legend Tom DeSavia. Tom is a longtime A&R executive, a podcaster, an activist and an author. He co-wrote the book Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk with John Doe. Tom and I sit down to talk about coming of age in the music industry, what's changed and what hasn't. We talk about how the last few years have found him continuing to learn more about himself and others, and how understanding and empathy remains important to him. Tons of food for thought here, and I hope you enjoy our conversation!

I'm very happy to welcome my friend Ty McKinnie back to the show. Listen to his first appearance here. Originally from Atlanta, Ty works in the music industry as a creative as well as an executive. He released his album Tyrie last year, and I highly recommend it! It's Black Music Month and Pride Month, and Ty stands proudly at the intersection. We talk about how his queerness informs the music he makes, and how he aims to be seen as a representative for a section of the music listening audience he doesn't see well-represented. Ty also fancies himself a "late bloomer" (it's the title of one of his songs), and we go deep into that and how he's come to terms with it. Additionally, we go deep on impostor syndrome, performance anxiety (as a creative, not what you're thinking!) and we talk about joy as a form of resistance. I really hope you enjoy our conversation! Drop a line, find me on socials (detoxpodguy) and let me know what you think!

Earlier this year, I interviewed Tyson Allred, the co-founder of Dad Bods and Beards. I've been impressed with DBAB's mission since I found out about them on Instagram through their creative, heartwarming and often funny Reels. Logan is the other half of Dad Bods and Beards, and our chat covers quite a bit of ground: from his bipolar diagnosis and the cop that saved his life to his ongoing fitness journey. From his passionate (and much appreciated) support of the queer community to the power of ketamine (which is starting to become a semi-recurring theme with this podcast), to his experience as a formerly practicing Mormon, Logan keeps it real, with more than a dash of humor and a shit ton of authenticity (real authenticity, not social media/marketing authenticity). I hope some of what Logan talks about resonates. I look forward to having him back for more! Hope you enjoy the listen. And find out more about Dad Bods and Beards here!

Hope you are doing as well as can be given current times. Remember, we are stronger together! Community remains of utmost importance! I'm excited to bring you my conversation with Tom Gentry. Tom is not only a treasured friend, but he's a counselor specializing in addiction. He's also a passionate advocate for progressive masculinity, which makes him a perfect fit for Detoxpod! Tom and I chat about his own experience as an addict and what drove him to recovery. We talk about familial cycles and how the things we learn growing up can affect us without even knowing it. Tom and I chat about the term "toxic masculinity" and how using those words can sometimes negatively obscure the work that we do. And there's so much more! Check out Tom's website and his podcast. Hope you get something positive out of this conversation. Feel free to drop me a line and share your thoughts!

I'm happy to welcome my friend Damon Jacobs BACK to the show, on a less-than-ten-episode turnaround. Damon is an NYC-based therapist who also hosts a great podcast called Tub Talks, and has been on the frontline of queer advocacy and STI (specifically HIV) awareness for years. Damon and I reconnect to talk about life in the new American presidential administration, and how to keep your wits about you when it seems like the world is falling apart. We discuss spirituality in depth, and it was really interesting to hear how someone else approaches their relationship with the universe. Of course, the topic of maintaining and cultivating community comes up, as I feel like it's an essential part of enjoying life even in the best of times and becomes even more important as we navigate turmoil. I'll admit to not being in a great place when this episode was recorded (I haven't been in a great place for most of 2025 if we're being honest), and Damon's words were enough to give me a re-think about how I'm getting through these days. I hope you get something uplifting and hopeful out of this episode. Feel free to leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

I'm happy to welcome my friend John Hill back to the podcast. He originally appeared on Episode 128, which was released in December 2022. That feels like a fucking lifetime ago. At any rate, it was good to catch up for the pod. John and I chat about a lot of things; including his bodybuilding journey, the current political climate (and dealing with a conservative parent), navigating popular culture as a middle aged person, and I ask John to sell me on Denver (which is on my list of cities to visit in 2025). Feel free to comment with your thoughts. I hope you enjoy the episode!

Hi Folks, Marco is a group organizer for the polyamorous/non monogamous community here in Brooklyn. This is how he and I met. Digging a little deeper, Marco is now underway in a new and interesting career, as a surrogate partner. What is a surrogate partner, you ask? Well...listen to the episode to find out. You can also get a little more info about what Marco does here. I've been fortunate enough to get to know a lot of people from wildly disparate backgrounds over the course of my life, but Marco is the first person I've met that hails from North Dakota, and we get a little insight on his experience in that environment as well as being a first-generation American. We also talk about bi/pansexuality, what it means to him, and how he (and I) often feels a bit out of place within queer male culture. Hope you enjoy the conversation! As always, feel free to like, share and comment!