When it comes to quote-unquote, capital-H “Hipster” publications online, there’s Pitchfork and then there’s everyone else. So in the lead up to Connor Barwin’s third-annual Make the World Better benefit concert next Friday, Ian Cohen – fantastic music writer, Philly sports fan, and hopeful future podcast guest – sat down with Barwin to talk about music and how his career intertwines with it.

Just after a Dario Saric and Sheer Mag name-drop (you should also really listen to Sheer Mag), Barwin talks his music pals and their interest level in his day job:

Cohen: When you meet musicians, do they ask you about the Eagles or for insider fantasy football info?

Barwin: Kurt Vile and I have hung out a few times, he’s awesome. He’s Mr. Philly and he has no interest in the Eagles, which is hilarious. Anand [Wilder] from Yeasayer—huge Eagles fan. He can’t help but get into Eagles conversation every time we talk. When I’m at shows, it’s pretty relaxed, but every once in a while, you get the crossover. Alex G is not an Eagles fan, but at his show, someone in his band was fucking around doing “E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!” chants. Once you meet these people, it’s hard not to become a big fan. The same thing happens with the NFL. I connect those two worlds for them. [Vile] is kind of a fan now that he’s friends with me.

But the most important takeaway from the short Q&A is a question I’ve often had about Barwin: He likes chill indie rock, so is that what he listens to in order to get hyped up for a game? “I’m listening to DMX and Eminem when I’m in the gym,” Barwin clarifies. “You gotta let the fuckin’ dog out.” He’s not wrong about that, but he might lose a punch on his hip-card for it.