Osiris’ ‘HFPod’ Podcast Profiles Deaf & Hard Of Hearing Phish Fans

The latest episode of Osiris Media‘s Helping Friendly Podcast features a discussion about the experience of Phish fans who are deaf or hard of hearing. Host RJ Bee spoke with Joel Gershon, a lecturer at the Communications school of American University and a handful of deaf and hard of hearing Phish fans for Episode 171 of HFPod, “Inside This Silent Scene.”

Joel has done research on the topic discussed in the episode and helped set up the conversation. The installment starts with Bee and his HFPod co-host Matt Dwyer talking about the effect of the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak on the live music industry. Next, RJ introduces Joel who recalls how his research began and the speech he gave on the topic at last year’s Phish Studies Conference. Then, Bee speaks with Chris, Aaron, Mike and Brian, four Phish fans who are either deaf or hard of hearing.

The fans explain how they take in live music and their various experiences at concerts from Phish and other acts. One subject that comes up frequently is how bands like Dead & Company and Widespread Panic go above and beyond to help their deaf and hard of hearing fans, while it’s often on deaf and hard of hearing Phish fans to fend for themselves. Additionally, each of the four fans give background on how they came to find the music of Phish. A transcript of the episode can be viewed here. Listen to the episode below:

JamBase is the media partner of Osiris.