In Defense of Ska

Ska no longer needs to be the butt of every joke. IDOS is flipping the narrative on this style of music that they love dearly.Hosts Aaron Carnes (author of "In Defense of Ska") and Adam Davis (Link 80, Omingone) chat with people in and outside of the ska scene to tell its stories, show its pervasiveness in culture, and defend it to their last dying breath.

The Mozzarella Stick Ska Meme: Its history and impact on ska
Jun 11, 2025 – 01:02:31
Ska Punk International: An interview with Chris Reeves
Jun 4, 2025 – 59:25
The story of Ska in New Orleans post-Katrina: A live panel at Hey Café
May 28, 2025 – 01:27:52
The beginning of a global trad ska revival: Potato 5
May 21, 2025 – 01:06:29
Japan’s finest: Hey Smith singer Shu
May 14, 2025 – 37:24
Touring in a Ska Band: Life on the Road
May 7, 2025 – 01:06:04
Punching Nazis: A True Gilman Punk Rock Story
Apr 30, 2025 – 01:13:56
From Eurovision to the Bosnian War: A conversation with Dubioza Kolektiv
Apr 23, 2025 – 01:04:24
The Sound of Ska in Denmark: The Chains
Apr 16, 2025 – 01:09:12
WTF is Crack Rock Steady?
Apr 9, 2025 – 01:08:54
Ska as Pop Music in 2025 w/ Catbite and Sarah Tudzin
Apr 2, 2025 – 59:04
When Smash Mouth Was a Ska Band
Mar 26, 2025 – 51:50
Why is Bob Marley more popular now than ever? A conversation with Roger Steffens
Mar 19, 2025 – 55:04
The Precure album returns: Kayleigh Malloy & Anj Capizzi discuss the reissue of Kmoy's Precure album
Mar 12, 2025 – 01:06:15
Political dance music: A conversation with Sergio Rotman from Argentinian ska band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Mar 5, 2025 – 47:34
Mike Park’s Best Friend: An interview with Chris Candy
Feb 26, 2025 – 53:23
Jesus Is a Friend of Mine (The Story of the Greatest Viral Video of All Time)
Feb 19, 2025 – 50:17
Shine Eternally: Zulu guitarist Braxton Marcellous’s ska roots
Feb 12, 2025 – 01:00:15
All Star Ska: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts drummer Michael McDermott talks about his ska supergroup The Kilograms
Feb 5, 2025 – 56:13
This Could Only Happen in England: A Conversation with Josh from The Skints
Jan 29, 2025 – 59:19
The Beatles played ska? An analysis with Jorge Pezzimenti (Loving Paupers, Pietasters) and Jay Nugent (The Slackers)
Jan 22, 2025 – 53:06
60 Songs That Explain the '90s' Rob Harvilla on The Mighty Mighty Bosstones' "The Impression That I Get"
Jan 15, 2025 – 56:43
ICYMI Alex Begay and the Crack Shack
Jan 8, 2025 – 50:40
ICYMI Tim Cappello
Jan 1, 2025 – 02:20:49
In Defense of Ska Behind The Curtain: 2024 in review with Mike Park (Asian Man Records, Skankin Pickle, Bruce Lee Band, The Chinkees) and Chris Reeves (Ska Punk International)
Dec 27, 2024 – 13:36
ICYMI Patrick Stump’s First Interview
Dec 25, 2024 – 01:07:49
In Defense of Ska: ICYMI Hepcat
Dec 18, 2024 – 01:36:40
In Defense of Ska Ep 204: Blammos (Arthur Leon Adams, Jimmy Boom)
Dec 11, 2024 – 56:58
Behind The Curtain: In Defense of Ska Live in Portland TEASER
Dec 5, 2024 – 20:00
In Defense of Ska Ep 203: Budgie (The Slits, Siouxsie and the Banshees)
Dec 4, 2024 – 01:04:18
In Defense of Ska Ep 202: Bandslam (Charlie Saxton, Todd Graff)
Nov 27, 2024 – 01:20:53
In Defense of Ska Ep 201: Stuck Lucky
Nov 20, 2024 – 01:20:12
In Defense of Ska Ep 200: Drew Skibitsky (Kill Lincoln, Urban Crater)
Nov 13, 2024 – 54:57
In Defense of Ska Ep 199: Karina Denika (Dance Hall Crashers, NOFX)
Nov 6, 2024 – 01:26:06
In Defense of Ska Ep 198: Aaron Carnes (Author of In Defense of Ska, Flat Planet, Fashion Police)
Oct 30, 2024 – 01:46:59
Behind The Curtain: Supernova panel with Five Iron Frenzy and Catbite
Oct 25, 2024 – 22:36
In Defense of Ska Ep 197: Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump Returns
Oct 23, 2024 – 01:31:06
In Defense of Ska episode 196: MC Lars
Oct 16, 2024 – 01:06:57
In Defense of Ska Ep 195: Zac Carper (FIDLAR)
Oct 9, 2024 – 56:46
In Defense of Ska ep 194: Raylin Joy (The Calamatix)
Oct 2, 2024 – 48:44
In Defense of Ska Ep 193: Ume (Kill Lincoln, Cutie Pi, Party Like It’s…)
Sep 25, 2024 – 01:06:38
In Defense of Ska Ep 192: Paul Hyman (Bad Manners)
Sep 18, 2024 – 01:20:31
Behind The Curtain: This Is New Tone Discussion Bonus Ep Teaser
Sep 13, 2024 – 09:29
In Defense of Ska Ep 191: Dunia & Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks, Agent 99, Stomp, Brave New Girl, Dubistry)
Sep 11, 2024 – 01:27:15
In Defense of Ska Ep 190: John Feldmann (Goldfinger)
Sep 4, 2024 – 01:14:57
In Defense of Ska Ep 189: Ice Nine Kills and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder's Ska Roots
Aug 28, 2024 – 51:33
In Defense of Ska Ep 188: Jon Natchez (Skavoovie & The Epitones, War On Drugs, Beirut)
Aug 21, 2024 – 02:11:54
Behind The Curtain: Vic Ruggiero & Jay Navarro LIVE PODCAST at Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival
Aug 16, 2024 – 07:23
In Defense of Ska Ep 187: Jesus Arriaga (Inspector, Skapital Sound)
Aug 14, 2024 – 01:13:13
In Defense of Ska Ep 186: Matt Collyer (The Planet Smashers, Stomp Records)
Aug 7, 2024 – 01:23:19

Recent Reviews

Manalotofnicknamesaretaken

Ska Now More Than Ever

Great deep dive into the greatest genre of music ever.
BJKTheStand

Thoughtful discussion and great guests

Love this podcast. Great listen and super consistent episode to episode.
PhillipJ.Fry

Podcasts now more than ever!

Ska ska ska! Jamaica ska! Ska ska ska! do the ska!
Guacamole_Jon

I defend ska

Adam is my favorite
Aaron&Laura

Good Conversations

Really enjoy the conversations on the podcast.
aaajn

Fantastic Discussions

This podcast is meaningful, well down. Thanks for your hard work.
jimmy carribean

Pick It Up

This pod is good. Also pick up the book. Hope this never stops. Ska is a band of misfits and this one does justice to that fact.
Gary Woodruff

Brilliant

Aaron and Adam do a fabulous job with this podcast. I’ve been a ska devotee for the last 24 years and these guys hit it out of the park every week. The people they interview from outside the ska scene are incredibly entertaining and those within the scene being back all the memories
Cappin Pretentious

RUDE BOY SUMMER!!!

Fell in love with ska as a teenager and spent much of high school skanking at streetlight and rbf shows. Even after discovering other genres, I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for all-things checkerboard. This podcast, along with Aaron’s book, is fantastic. A nice blend of interviews with longtime vets and up-and-comers in the scene. Pick it up pick it pick it up!!!
CompassionCo

A ska podcast truly adding to the conversation.

In a world where interview shows are a dime a dozen, In Defense Of Ska really stands out. Hosts Aaron and Adam are thoughtful and engaging conversationalists who waste no time getting to the interview in this well produced podcast. What makes the show truly unique is the amount of guests that would typically be considered unconventional for a ska podcast. They aren't just interviewing whatever ska band put out their new album (although there is some of that and it is delightful), but they pull in guests that have some connection to, or history with, ska. Highlights in that realm have been Laura Jane Grace, Patrick Stump, and Tim Capello. At this point I look forward to each new episode and can't wait to see what unexpected guest they'll interview next.
Mikey Ska

Great Podcast

Awesome Podcast! Really great trip down memory lane for anyone who grew up in the Bay Area liking Ska music or just Ska fans in general. I remember seeing Adam’s band Desa play a bunch times at iMusicast in Oakland. Thanks for making this Podcast guys!
Boonwhacker Society

This was made for me

As someone from Gilroy whose high school years were pretty much defined by the mid to late 90s Bay Area ska scene, I cannot image a podcast more geared towards me than this is one.
Beanish

Yesssssss

This podcast is so fun. It’s a great look at the third wave of ska. It’s so good to know that I’m not the only one who loves Animal Chin.
Adam Fitz

Off to a great start

Love this podcast. After “pick it up” the ska movie came out last year I’ve been in full nostalgia for the 90s ska wave. First episodes seem to be focused around the west coast. I hope they delve into some mid-west ska bands as they move forward.