1. What is The Life We Lead?

The Life We Lead is a monthly cable-access television series that promotes and documents punk culture in the Boston and New England areas. The focus of the show is to give voice to the punk rock scene through its participants. It is completely uncensored, providing a refreshing, provocative perspective from those who live the scene on a daily basis.

2. Where is The Life We Lead broadcast?

The show is not currently being broadcast in Boston.

3. I live in Boston, how come I don’t get the show?

Each township has its own public-access television station; for example, in Cambridge there’s Cambridge Community Television, in Somerville it’s Somerville Community Access Television. Because The Life We Lead is broadcast through Boston Neighborhood Network (BNN-TV), it is only available in areas that receive BNN (i.e. greater Boston).

4. How can I get the show in my area?

We are not taking requests to air the show in other cities at this time.

5. Why does the show’s rotation keep changing?

When I initially started The Life We Lead, I was very ambitious about its creation. What I have since learned is that producing your own television show is a damn lot of work! Especially since everything I do is digital. Thus, to ensure the quality of each episode (and to keep myself sane), I had to change the show from a bi-weekly rotation to monthly. Don't worry, you'll still get the quality television programming you've come to expect - you just won't get it as often. But hey, absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?

6. Why isn't the show in production anymore?

Quite honestly, I'd love to be able to keep producing the show, but the amount of time and resources it takes to support new episodes isn't realistically possible at this time. Doing shows for public access doesn't pay the bills and unfortunately there isn't enough time to keep the show going. And frankly, I'd rather quit now than rush things and produce crap. The scene deserves better and if there's a time when I can come back to it, believe me it'll happen.

7. Why hasn’t my band’s episode aired yet? We filmed weeks ago!

Be patient! This ain’t NBC! Typically the episode schedule runs about a month ahead, so if you filmed in May, you’ll probably see yourself in June or July. Remember, new episodes run once a month (with repeats every week thereafter).

8. What is BNN-TV?

Boston Neighborhood Network. BNN is a public access television station serving the greater Boston area. The programming on BNN is created by Boston residents and is the perfect example of Freedom of Speech (that’s the first Amendment to the Constitution, folks). Yes, you can even show nudity. There are rules, however. “Objectionable” or potentially offensive material gets a later timeslot; hence, The Life We Lead will always be on after 9 pm because I don’t censor anything my guests say or do.

9. What do you mean you don’t censor anything in your shows?

That’s right - The Life We Lead is completely uncensored. You can say whatever you want, or do whatever you want (within reason). The whole reason that I do this show is because crappy media outlets like Rolling Stone tell you what THEY want you to know. They rarely let the artists speak for themselves. What’s the point of documenting something if you’re only going to cover what YOU think is interesting? Even if I don’t like what a person has to say, they have the right to say it, and it’s my job not to censor that. 

10. How can I get a copy of the show?

We are not selling merchandise or episodes at this time.