It is with great pleasure that we celebrate Issue Oriented’s 50th episode. First, Shadows Fall vocalist Brian Fair weighs in on the Grammys, the ever-changing music industry, the value of content and much more. There’s lots of insight here, which comes as no surprise – Shadows Fall are one of the world’s most well-known bands.

Then we shift gears, taking a look back at the past 50 episodes with the help of some friends - Ray Harkins (Mikoto, Taken), Portland (Sons of Nero, Ferret Music) and James Hepplewhite (Pastepunk.com) all reflect on their favorite Issue Oriented moments over the years.

LISTEN: Issue Oriented episode 50 with Brian Fair (Shadows Fall), plus Episode 50 Spectacular

Oh, snap – guess what I saw? Why, it’s this video preview for Issue Oriented episode 50, which comes out literally any minute now. It’s got Shadows Fall vocalist Brian Fair and a whole lot more.

Oh, and did you see the cool new media player on the right? It now includes videos for all your one-stop-shop IO needs. And not only does it do video, but now you can share Issue Oriented videos virally, H1N1 style. So get to it, and enjoy!

If for some inexcusable reason you have not yet listened to episode 49 of Issue Oriented, here’s a brief video preview to whet your internet whistle – it’s one of the lighter moments from our interview with Burnt By The Sun vocalist Michael Olender. And oh yeah, two really important things:

1) We’ve been nominated for the 2009 Podcast Awards in the Entertainment category – you can vote once every 24 hours through 11/30, and it would be great if you did!  Click here to vote, fulfilling the promise of American Democracy.

2) We are currently sponsoring a contest that features awesome prizes from the record label Paper+Plastick. You could win vinyl and other goodies from artists like Frank Turner, Shook Ones and more. The original news item for the contest is right below this one, but you can cut to the chase by putting your email address in the little subscription box to your right.

Episode 49 also features award-winning documentary film maker Jonathan Kalafer talking about his new movie, We Love You. Check out the trailer:

WE LOVE YOU: Theatrical Trailer from Jonathan Kalafer on Vimeo.

Paper + Plastick and Issue Oriented are teaming up to give away all kinds of great stuff! FIVE lucky winners will walk away with awesome vinyl and more from one of the most exciting new record labels to emerge in some time, Paper + Plastick.

For your chance to win, subscribe to Issue Oriented (it’s FREE) by entering your email address below. By subscribing, you will simply receive an email each time a new episode of Issue Oriented comes out. We will not give or sell your email address to anyone.

So what are the prizes?

• Frank Turner The First Three Years 2 x LP
• Cheap Girls My Roaring 20’s CD/LP
• Failures Union In What Way CD/LP
• Shook Ones The Unquotable A.M.H.   LP
• Hand-screened Cheap Girls/Failures Union tour poster, limited edition of 50

Wanna win? Enter your email address here, and hit the button. All things should be so easy.

Legal stuff:

1. No purchase or payment necessary to enter. To enter, fill out the form above (or in the sidebar of this website) with your email address. Entries must be made by November 20th, 2009.

2. Odds of winning are determined by number of entries received.

4. Sweepstakes not open to employees of Issue Oriented, Paper And Plastick, or to their immediate families. Winners must sign an affidavit of eligibility and a publicity release allowing the use of their names by sponsors. Void where prohibited by law. All taxes are the responsibilities of the prize winners.

5. A winners list will be posted on IssueOriented.com by December 15, 2009.

UPDATE: The entry period for this contest has ended. Winners announced shortly!

For the second year in a row, Issue Oriented has been nominated for a 2009 Podcast Award in the Entertainment category!

And just like American Idol and America’s Best Dance Crew, the Podcast Awards is decided by the people. That’s right – only you, with the mighty power of your vote, can determine the winner of this grueling contest.

Help us get that golden iPod statue and the three trillion dollar cash prize that come with this award. Help us beat our competition, including two shows about the TV show Lost, and last year’s winner – a podcast about Harry Potter.  Help us crush them. Help us crush them all like crushed worms.

Voting is open from November 13 through November 30. You can vote every day, and it would be awesome if you did. And your friends, too. Over 3,500 shows were nominated for this year’s awards, and Issue Oriented once again finds itself in the final ten for the Entertainment category. And sure, getting nominated by itself is an awesome honor.

But it sure would be cool to win. So vote – a lot. And with fury.

LINK: Vote for Issue Oriented  in the 2009 Podcast Awards – Entertainment category

• Russ Rankin (Good Riddance, Only Crime) laments the death of American civility – civic duty, lobbying, managing disagreement and much more. It’s long, and it’s worth it.

• Polar Bear Club’s manager/go-to guy Tracker (a.k.a. Trevor Backer) reflects on his fourth trip to The Fest, and what it means to be on the road with his homies. Click, click.

• James Hepplewhite wonders about Agnostic Front album art, Daredevil, and Batman,

Peanut butter and jelly. Movies and popcorn. Pummeling metal and praying for world peace. Some things just go together perfectly.

Welcome to the spectacle that is episode 49 of Issue Oriented. First, your fearless host talks to Burnt By The Sun vocalist (and Issue Oriented contributor) Michael Olender about good and evil, the perils of personal creativity, his band’s new release Heart of Darkness and much, much more. It’s a though-provoking piece and we know you’ll love it.

Then hear film maker Jonathan Kalafer discuss his new award-winning documentary, We Love You. This film documents an annual event called the Rainbow Gathering, which takes place at a different National Park each year. With up to 50,000 people in attendance, Rainbow Gatherings culminate with a prayer for peace taking place each 4th of July – even if Federal Agents shoot pepper spray at kids on July 3. Which Kalafer captured on film. We Love You recently won Best Documentary at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival. Check out this interview – you’ll be glad you did.

LISTEN: Issue Oriented episode 49 with Michael Olender (Burnt By The Sun) and Jonathan Kalafer (We Love You)

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