On this week's episode of Mixtape Stories, we invite old friend Andrew Cheuvront aka Frame Wright Workshop to make a playlist of songs from Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game soundtracks. We talk about our 20+ year friendship that bonded over punk music and video games, the fundamental elements of skate punk vs pop punk, what the Tony Hawk video games meant to us as people who can't skate, and much more.

Listen as we discuss each of the Tony Hawk Pro Skater Soundtrack songs Andrew picked:
1. "New Girl" by Suicide Machines
2. "Guerilla Radio" by Rage Against the Machine
3. "The Boy Who Destroyed the World" by AFI
4. "Drunken Lullabies" by Flogging Molly
5. "New Noise" by Refused

Be on the lookout for his live album video with band Good Terms and content from his west coast tour with band Night Cap in the Spring and make sure to follow Andrew on social media:
Instagram: @framewrightworkshop
TikTok: @framewrightworkshop
Youtube: @framewrightworkshop

As well as his website: https://www.framewrightworkshop.com/

On this week's episode of Mixtape Stories, we have ASMR Artist and Twitch Streamer Jordan aka Barely Average Jo. She made a playlist of songs that give the kinds of tingles that are similar to the sensations one would get from ASMR. We talk about "musical edging" with Pink Floyd, the concept of time and sleep in relation to music, how the Third Eye Blind self-titled album is the epitome of 90s rock, getting lost in the grooves of Tame Impala, how Vivaldi was metal af, and much more. If you listen closely, canine cohost Teddy gets in on the ASMR action chewing on his Himalayan Cheese Stick.

Listen as we discuss each of the ASMR songs Jordan picked:
1. "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd
2. "Narcolepsy" by Third Eye Blind
3. "Let it Happen" by Tame Impala
4. "Winter" by Antonio Vivaldi
5. "Wellll" by Jacob Collier

Be sure to keep up with Jordan on social media:
Twitch: @BarelyAverageJo
Youtube: @BarelyAverageJoASMR

On our latest episode, Nerd Rock Josh returns to talk Wrestler Entrance Themes. We discuss the concept of pavlov's bells and how the WWE started utilizing them in the 80s and 90s, the genius of WWE composer Jim Johnston, what entrance music we would use if we were wrestlers and much more!

Listen as we discuss each of the wrestler themes below and why Josh wanted to include them on this mixtape:
1. Hulk Hogan
2. Bret Hart
3. The Undertaker
4. Yokozuna
5. Stone Cold Steve Austin

On our latest episode, we invited Nerd Rock Josh to make a mixtape of his favorite movie montage songs from the 1980s. We discuss the significance of Rocky IV as a staple for 80s montages, the career trajectory of EG Daily, owning movie soundtracks, and much more. 

Listen as we discuss each of the movies/tracks below and why Josh wanted to include them on this mixtape:
1. ”Mind Over Matter” by EG Daily (Summer School)
2. “Scarface (Push it to the Limit)” by Paul Engemann (Scarface)
3. “You’re the Best” by Joe Esposito (Karate Kid)
4. “Hungry Eyes” by Eric Carmen (Dirty Dancing)
5. “Rock Until You Drop” by Michael Sembello (Monster Squad)

*please excuse my mispronunciations of Giorgio Moroder. For some reason I had Lord of the Rings in my mind every time I said his name lol

On our latest episode, we invited Bridgette Norris-Sanchez and Bobby Rivas from the band Honey Bunny. The couple started Honey Bunny six months after they started dating and have been making a name for themselves in the San Antonio music scene. They created a mixtape of bands made up of couples. We talk about what it's like to collaborate with a romantic partner, how they feed off of each other's creative energies, couples in music that you can tell are still in love, how the Swedes took over American pop music, and a lot more.

Listen as we discuss each of the tracks below and why Honey Bunny wanted to include them on this mixtape:
1. Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood
2. ABBA - Fernando
3. Phantogram - When I'm Small
4. Tennis - I Need Your Love
5. Blondie - Atomic

Be sure to check out Honey Bunny on Instagram @honeybunnysatx. If you're in San Antonio, they have a show on December 26 at the new venue Rah Rah Room from the owners of Bang Bang Bar!

On our latest episode, we invited lead singer of local punk band Lloronas, Amanda Vega, to make a mixtape of songs that embody the energy of Fuck the Patriarchy. We talk about writing songs to share a message vs writing songs to share an emotion, what it means to be a woman in a punk rock band, how female musicians have transcended genre and how the upcoming generation of musicians are showing that the future of music is in good hands. This was recorded earlier this summer, but feels more relevant than ever today.

Listen as we discuss each of the tracks below and why Amanda wanted to include them on this mixtape:
1. Mannequin Pussy - I Got Heaven
2. The Black Angels - Empires Falling
3. Peaches - Fuck the Pain Away
4. Amyl and the Sniffers - U Should Not Be Doing That
5. Idles - Gift Horse

Be sure to check out Amanda's band @lloronas.satx. They'll be releasing new music very soon!

On our latest episode, we invited local restaurant owner and PR specialist Luis Vazquez to make a mixtape of essential emo songs. We talk a lot about the seriousness (or lackthereof) of most emo music, Warped Tour, ska, growing up in the heyday of third wave emo culture and most importantly how songs can instill important memories.

Listen as we discuss each of the tracks below and why Luis wanted to include them on this mixtape:
1. Senses Fail - Buried a Lie
2. Underoath - Reinventing Your Exit
3. My Chemical Romance - Helena
4. Taking Back Sunday - A Decade Under the Influence
5. Paramore - Pressure

If you're in San Antonio, be sure to check out Luis' restaurants Arenas Marisqueria Lounge IG: @arenaslounge and Sabor Cocina Mexicana as well as his public relations company We Should Hang Out More PR IG: @morehangouts

On our latest episode, we invited performance artist, podcaster and Degrassi superfan Wayne Holtz to make a mixtape of songs that were used as episode titles of Degrassi. We talk about mom rock, poptimism, the use of music in TV show soundtracks and growing up to the music of the 2000s.

Listen as we discuss each of the episodes/tracks below and why Wayne wanted to include them on this mixtape:
1. Christina Aguilera - What a Girl Wants
2. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
3. Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek
4. Lady Gaga - Love Game
5. Duncan Sheik - Barely Breathing

Be sure to check out Wayne Holtz' music wherever you stream music and be on the look out for new episodes of the Wayne Holtz Podcast soon.

For our first episode, we invited singer/songwriter Octavio Gonzalez from bands Westbound Departure, Fader Friend and his most recent project SleepSlow to make us a mixtape of five of his favorite album openers. We discuss what makes a good first album track, what inspires songwriting, and what happens when listeners start to notice influences in your music you didn't realize were there.

Listen as we discuss each of the tracks below and why Octavio wanted to include them on this mixtape:
1. Thursday - For the Workforce/Drowning
2. Semisonic - Closing Time
3. The Wallflowers - One Headlight
4. Len - Steal My Sunshine
5. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American

SleepSlow will be releasing a new song "Seeing Stars" on 10/24. Be sure to check it out!

On this week's episode of Mixtape Stories, we have Gage, Noel and Andrew from the band Like Ghosts on to talk about a playlist of songs they've covered. With 3/4s of the band present, we discuss their evolution as a band through songs they've covered over the past decade, why they decided to cover these songs, how they were signed, meeting and performing with Ryan Cabrera, how one of their covers went viral through an NSFW video and much more.

Listen as we discuss each of the cover songs Like Ghosts picked:
1. "High" by The Chainsmokers
2. "Ghost" by Justin Bieber
3. "It's Gonna Be Me" by N*SYNC
4. "I Had Some Help" by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen
5. "On the Way Down" by Ryan Cabrera

Check out Like Ghosts on all socials under @likeghostsrock
Instagram
YouTube

Be sure to check out their latest single "Better Now" on Youtube here. Their new EP is set to be released early next year and if you're in San Antonio, their next show is at The Starlighter with Chasing the Night. Also, be sure to check out Andrew playing guitar with Rookie of the Year on tour with Fred Mascherino on 12/19 (Olean, NY) and 12/20 (Buffalo, NY) and be sure to check out their Instagram for more tour dates. 

On this week's episode of Mixtape Stories, we have my brother Andy Casarez, who spent the bulk of his 20s under the nickname PreGame Andy because of how he used to PreGame for parties. We talk about what makes a good pregame song vs what is just a good drinking song, the thin line between pregame songs and guys being dudes songs, and share stories from our 20s that helped shape the people we are today.

Listen as we discuss each of the PreGame songs Andy picked:
1. "No Beef" by Steve Aoki and AfroJack
2. "Sorry You're Not a Winner" by Enter Shikari
3. "Ebolarama" by Every Time I Die
4. "Attitude" by The Misfits
5. "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" by Ol' Dirty Bastard

Check out Andy's full PreGame Playlist on Apple Music here.

On this week's episode of Mixtape Stories, we have my wife Shawn Gessay to make a playlist of songs by Disney Pop Stars. We specifically look at pop stars whose career started on the Disney Channel. We discuss the exploitation that some of these young stars went through, how many tried to redefine themselves with more adult music,  how some are seeing a resurgence thanks to Tiktok trends, a brief tangent on the unpunished crimes of Justin Timberlake and much more.

Listen as we discuss each of the Disney Pop Star songs Shawn picked:
1. "Bad Liar" by Selena Gomez (Wizards of Waverly Place)
2. "Please, Please, Please" by Sabrina Carpenter (Girl Meets World)
3. "(You Drive Me) Crazy" by Britney Spears (The Mickey Mouse Club)
4. "With Love" by Hilary Duff (Lizzie McGuire)
5. "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana)

On this week's episode of Mixtape Stories, we invited World Bench Press Champion Jamie Fisher on to make a playlist of songs that soundtrack her lifts. Part workout playlist, part hype up playlist, Jamie guides us through the female artists that help her elevate her lifts. We talk about music that empowers women, what it's like to be a woman in a male-driven sport, how female artists reinvent themselves and overcome adversity, and so much more.

Listen as we discuss each of the Girl Power Lift songs Jamie picked:
1. "I am Not a Woman, I'm a God" by Halsey
2. "You Should See Me in a Crown" by Billie Eilish
3. "Hard" by Rihanna
4. "Like a Boy" by Ciara
5. "Bad Bih 4 Ya" by GloRilla

Jamie will be competing in the upcoming Powerlifting America SBD Austin competition on November 22, 2025 in Austin Texas. For information on tickets, check out the SBD website here. 

On our first episode of Season 2, we invited local scene queen Itzel O to make a mixtape of some of her favorite Indie Sleaze songs. We talk about trying to define indie sleaze, millennial cringe, the heyday of rappers embracing indie rock, fried pickles, American Apparel, and so much more.

Listen as we discuss each of the Indie Sleaze songs Itzel picked:
1. "Walking on a Dream" by Empire of the Sun
2. "Oblivion" by Grimes
3. "Crime Wave" by Crystal Castles
4. "Young Folks" by Peter, Bjorn and John
5. "I Can Change" by LCD Soundsystem

Check out the full indie sleaze playlist Itzel made on Spotify here.

On our final episode of season 1, we invited Cody Mauser of the bands Freund and Rich Hands to make a mixtape of some of his favorite Christmas songs. We talk about what makes a good Christmas song, why we think there aren't as many original Christmas songs, why some people hate Christmas songs, the Christmas song he just wrote and released, and much more.

Listen as we discuss each of the Christmas songs Cody picked:
1. "Christmas All Over Again" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2. "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney
3. "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" by Wizzard
4. "This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway
5. "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by Darlene Love

Check out Cody's Christmas song "It Must Be Christmas Time" on Spotify. You can find his solo stuff here and be on the lookout for his new band Freund set to release a new album in January 2025. Follow them on Instagram here.

On our latest episode, we invite mortician Gabby Sanchez to talk about the songs she'd like played at her funeral. Check it out as we talk about the different vibes of funeral playlists, how to get by emotionally in a job that revolves around death, spirituality, how Sade has no haters, the most common funeral songs and how a funeral playlist serves as the closing credits to somebody's life.

Listen as we discuss each of the songs Gabby picked to be played at her funeral.
1. "Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)" by Bobby Womack
2. "Kiss of Life" by Sade
3. "Amor Eterno" by Rocio Durcal
4. "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac
5. "One of These Nights" by The Eagles

You can follow Gabby on IG @pennylanexx_

On our latest episode, we invite filmmaker/writer/musician Bryan Powell to make a mixtape of songs from some of his favorite movie trailers. We talk about the campification of Limp Bizkit, what's the best way to go about picking a song for a trailer, the many lives of "All Star" by Smash Mouth, discovering music through trailers and encounter some minor Ted-nical difficulties.

Listen as we discuss each of the songs and movies below and why Bryan wanted to include them on this mixtape:
1. "Shipping Up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphys from The Departed
2. "I Got 5 On It" by Luniz from Us
3. "All Star" by Smashmouth from Mystery Men
4. "Dirty Paws" by Of Monsters and Men from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
5. "Sweet Dreams" by The Eurythmics from Kinds of Kindness

If you're in San Antonio, Bryan's band Cel Shade is playing Faust Tavern on Friday 12/13!

Be sure to check out Bryan on Instagram his films @youreinvited_tv, his band @cel.shade, his poetry @bryanpowellwrites. His latest book Haiku Noir is available for purchase on Amazon here and subscribe to his substack here.