"Women in Punk" Part 2 (Punk@50)

“Because it was a do-it-yourself thing where we just rejected the norm and did our own thing.”

In Part 2 of the Women in Punk panel, recorded live at the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles as part of Alle gegen Alles. Punk@50, Jessica Schwartz continues the conversation with Pleasant Gehman, Jula Bell Liebi, and Tequila Mockingbird, with additional contributions from Cloudia Wintermute of Die Schlaflosen (Sleepless) and Stella Stray Pop of KXLU. Moving through stories of music, friendship, touring, and artistic influences, the participants reflect on the relationships and creative encounters that shaped their experiences of punk.

The conversation turns toward women’s experiences in bands, the artists who inspired them, and the ongoing work of making things. From Bowie, Exene Cervenka, Chrissie Hynde, Nina Hagen, and Lydia Lunch to stories of touring, performing, writing, dancing, and recording, the panelists consider what punk made possible and how those experiences continue to inform their creative lives. Tequila discusses Punk School and her work preserving punk histories, while the conversation opens onto the possibilities of contemporary tools for independent music-making.

As the discussion moves toward archives, ephemera, and intergenerational exchange, the panelists reflect on what they saved, what they learned, and what younger artists are making possible today. Stella Stray Pop joins the conversation near its conclusion, sharing memories of KXLU, independent radio, and the freedom to play music outside commercial formats. Collectively, these stories return to punk as an ongoing practice of creativity, community, and doing things for oneself—together.

“Women in Punk” is part of Alle gegen Alles. Punk@50, a project of the Goethe-Institutes in the United States and Mexico marking the 50th anniversary of punk through a series of exhibitions, concerts, film screenings, and discussions that focus on punk as a subculture, protest movement, and catalyst for self-determination.

Featuring:

Tequila Mockingbird

Jula Bell Liebi

Pleasant Gehman

Additional participants:

Cloudia Wintermute — Die Schlaflosen / Sleepless

Stella Stray Pop — KXLU 88.9 FM Los Angeles

Moderated by Jessica Schwartz.

Introduced by Luisa Rath-John, Director, Goethe-Institut Los Angeles (Part 1).

Recorded live at the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles, September 2026.

Links + References:

Alle gegen Alles. Punk@50

Women in Punk — Goethe-Institut Los Angeles

Stray Pop — KXLU / Spinitron

Die Schlaflosen / Sleepless — Official Website

Credits:

Punkast is hosted and produced by Jessica Schwartz.

Editorial support: Arrow Menendez– audio editing and audio-synced transcript.

Panel photograph by Gary Leonard @tmpgaryleonard.

Transcript:

Audio-synced transcript

Theme Music:

Lady Bits, "Bitch-a-thon," Lady Bits.

Related:

Jessica Schwartz co-hosts the Punk Scholars Podcast.

About Punkast:

Punkast is a weekly podcast exploring punk in the historical present through critical conversations, inquiry, and collaboration.

Connect with Punkast:

Spotify

Instagram: punkastucla

Email: punkastucla@gmail.com

Stay tapped in. New episodes every Friday.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(93)

Alliance (Apache) (Apache Core) with Kristy Martinez

“It doesn't matter where you're from, like you can still be a part of our quote-unquote alliance, you know?”Closing Punkast's guest-hosted series celebrating Indigenous creativity and Native American ...

6 Nov 1h 35min

Josh Andujo (Gabrielino Tongva) (SGV Ska Punk) with Kristy Martinez

“Few shows I've been to, like in East LA Boyle Heights, same thing. You have a taqueria right there. It could be somebody's tía or tío making food for the community. They're not charging, but, like, y...

30 Okt 34min

Gabe Colhoff (Northern Cheyenne · Blackfeet) (Pow Wow Punk Rock) with Kristy Martinez

“If someone in the sweat goes down, you pick them up. Well, then I'd go to these punk shows ... you're shoulder to shoulder with your people.”“So us walking into clubs with like hats and braids and st...

23 Okt 54min

Viki Eagle (Sicangu Lakota) (Rez Metal) with Kristy Martinez (Guest Host)

“And she wore this Iron Maiden T-shirt and she wore these Navajo moccasins. And I was like, wow, that's like the coolest picture to this day that I think I've ever taken.”In recognition of Indigenous ...

16 Okt 1h 13min

"Women in Punk" Part 1 (Punk@50)

“It changed everything. All sorts of different art came out of it—the people that made the flyers, the people that wrote the fanzines, not just the bands.”Recorded live at the Goethe-Institut Los Ange...

2 Okt 45min

Luisa Rath-John + Ilka Erren Pardiñas (Goethe-Institut)

“Sometimes it’s actually quite okay to let go of this control … and to trust in the process and to trust in the people that you’re working with.”Jessica Schwartz speaks with Goethe-Institut Los Angele...

25 Sep 45min

Tequila Mockingbird (Punk@50)

“For me, it’s always going to be about making sure that our legacies are honored and protected.”Tequila Mockingbird joins Jessica Schwartz for a conversation about bringing her Punk Museum into the Go...

25 Sep 22min