The Other Pod (formerly Substance Abuse) is a podcast exploring identity, gender and sexuality through the lens of creating. Having spent years photographing notable people, host Chloe Aftel takes it a step further as she goes deep into how notables challenge the cultural status quo in creating works of meaning, depth and substance.

Listen for interviews with the novelist George Saunders, Killer Mike, Anna Frebel, Kathleen Hanna and many more. At the heart of every conversation is Chloe’s own inquiry into how living life as “The Other”, as someone who has never quite fit in, influences a creative person’s need to self-express and how that can be the ultimate act of freedom. 

Episodes 1-11 artwork was created by artist and longtime collaborator Deanna Staffo, whose paintings and illustrations evoke the imperfections of being human.

Episodes 12-24’s artwork is by Bernardo Rodriguez whose precision and humanity in portraiture is both illuminating and moving.

Intro music by Selector J, who has been a music collector and DJ going on 30 years - sharing the inspirational power of music with radio and dance floor audiences alike. 2023 is the 10th anniversary of his time on Mendocino Community Radio KZYX & Z. He is an utterly unique musical force.

Questions, comments, thoughts, suggestions, pls email: sami@chloeaftel.com