THE.INTL

420 LAUNCH EDITION
April 17, 2026

THE.INTL is a hybrid print culture zine for people who don’t consume culture—they participate in it.

We cover the collision points: art, music, food, science, cars, and local scenes before they hit the mainstream. The 420 Launch Edition sets the standard with underrated artists, weird science worth arguing about, healthy foodz that still go hard, random car facts, and the hottest open mics in Metro Phoenix.

Every article in THE.INTL starts with a QR code. Scan it and you’re dropped straight into a video from the author—on YouTube and TikTok—breaking down their piece, adding context, or going off-script. Print meets motion. Page meets personality. No gatekeepers in between.

Designed to be kept, not skimmed, THE.INTL is culture slowed down and made physical—while still plugged into the internet where conversations actually happen.

This isn’t lifestyle media.
This is culture, documented in real time.

HOW TO READ THE.INTL

Every article in THE.INTL starts with a QR code.

Scan it to hear the author read their article out loud—with commentary, context, and off-book thoughts—via audio-first videos published on YouTube and shared to TikTok.

Print is the foundation.
Audio is the expansion.

Read it. Listen to it. Or do both.
THE.INTL is meant to be experienced, not just read.

ARTIST ZPOTLIGHT:
WHO’S MOST UNDERRATED

AUTHOR: Dead2nite

 Horror movies have always been an integral part of my development. Before ever seeing one, I remember scouring articles and reviews on the web to retrieve the gory details my parents would never let grace our television set. They would rush us by the camp-creepy decor families would set up in the yard for Halloween. But that’s what I always wanted to watch, I couldn’t help myself. Even now, my top 100 songs last year was nearly all horror soundtracks (and Enya). But there was one rock band that made the cut, and not surprisingly enough: they started as a solo project for writing horror scores.

   I spent most of my life living in the Salt Lake City valley. So when I was hunting down new music to jam from the usual sources there (i.e. the tattoo parlor) I was struck by the atmospheric yet completely captivating sound of Provoker. The dudes at the Lonely Hearts Club Tattoo were playing the group’s just-released debut album, Body Jumper, while Jeff Pons was doing a number on me. It was undeniably catchy music, but that’s not the first thing I noticed about it; the first thing I noticed was its thick ambiance. Jeff was putting a deadly-looking vampire lady in the ditch of my arm, and he felt like their music was right to set the vibe.

   He was right of course. At the time, I was working as a delivery driver for a construction company, so I spent most of my days with an earbud in listening to — you guessed it — classic Gothic literature. I went through books like The Castle of Otranto and Carmilla while I was loading shingles in the rain at the foot of the Wasatch Front. I cried during Wuthering Heights while I was on the job-site carrying bundles around to an unfinished garage. Putting Provoker’s album on in between long stretches of listening to these books could not have been a more perfect vibe. The subdued, easy vocal, crisp, driving drum machine, and seamless blend of textured, layered synths with distinct, mid-tone guitar work felt like Depeche Mode and The Cure for the 2020s.

   In 2023 Provoker released the sophomore effort Demon Compass — clearly the same band, but the lyrical themes feel more intimate, and the songwriting has gotten catchier without descending into modern pop. Songs like It’s In My Head can easily slot into radio airplay, nearly channeling Passion Pit’s direct, ghostly aura, sounding more like 2010s indie than modern goth. But tracks like Valley Ghoul, invoking the charismatic earnestness of The Smiths, or the haunted cry of The Stalker really display not only the band’s range, but their mastery of the aesthetic. The syncopated, clean hi-hats and cymbals in the album’s closer, Deadly Insect, feel like hypnosis over its nostalgic, longing melodies.

   Last May they released their most recent LP, Mausoleum, a collaborative effort with producer Kenny Beats filled with eleven of the biggest, boldest versions of the graveyard dance floor. Gun2myhead feels like a walk down a dangerous dark alley — and the ensuing car chase — its steady drum-line conjured from something John Carpenter would’ve scored for Escape from New York or Halloween. The title track is a broken confessional in a hazy nightclub, a whispered word from a stranger almost lost among the weeping synths. But it’s the single, Pantomime, that undeniably stands out, and its chorus remains perhaps their most transparent work yet; “A fool in love with a sacrifice/An offering of the body.” The lyrics paint a perfect picture of tragic love while glimmering 80s electric guitars sing over the deepest darkwave beat you could dance to.

   I try to expand my musical palate as much as I can stand, so each month my top albums and artists rotate frequently. But since being introduced, Provoker has always made my end-of-year stats, and I find myself coming back to them so organically. For any other vampires of the city searching for the soundtrack to the horror film that is your life, look no further. Provoker’s got you covered with one you can sing along to.

———

Dead2nite is a music producer, writer, and filmmaker living in Mesa, AZ with their life partner, Teagan and their best friend, Garrett. They spend most of their free time watching horror movies and anime or reading Wikipedia when they’re not writing interesting articles like this one.

FOODZ:
HEALTHY RECIPEZ

AUTHOR: Jon Adams

A lot of people have switched to gluten-free options lately and it’s something that I did not believe in until I tried “The Whole 30” program for myself.  That is when I learned what was primarily responsible for my digestive problems.  I say primarily because it turns out years later I would also identify anxiety, stress and depression as additional factors to my digestive issues.  Apparently it’s not just the genetic modification of all wheat genomes that make me urinate out of my anus.  

I found a website for an entire host of gluten-free recipes at www.mamaknowsglutenfree.com and with some modification I have made them free of sugar as well.  For those of you who have not yet tried to replace sugar with honey, I would recommend you view “That Sugar Film” as it chronicles the re-introduction then re-removal of sugar from one’s diet from a very real and personal account of the guy who made the film.  I am currently too high off of some aeroponic sativa flower to look his name up so just watch the film, it’s very much worth it.  I replace sugar with about a 1:1.25 ratio of sugar:honey and sometimes as much as 1:1.4 sugar:honey ratio like for smoothies when I want them a bit sweeter but usually 1:1.25 for smoothies is good too.

The pancake recipe they have can be easily modified to use coconut oil as they have vegetable oil listed and couple that with the 1:1.25 sugar:honey.  I recommend organic honey that is local as it helps keep local beekeepers running, they are so crucial to our local ecosystem.  Next replace the Pillsbury gluten-free flour with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour(available at any Walmart) and this eliminates the need for xanthan gum that they have listed in their recipe.  I use pink Himalayan sea salt as a 1:1 replacement for table salt, in reality I use that salt for everything, table or otherwise.  I also use Rumford Baking Powder(available at any Walmart) as it is also gluten free.  Any almond milk can be used for this recipe.  I do use eggs however, if you decide to replace eggs then Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free egg replacer would be a great choice.  Your new gluten-free recipe will look like this for their 1X recipe:

2.5 tablespoons of honey

2 tablespoons coconut oil

1 egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour
1 tablespoon Rumford Baking Powder 

¼ teaspoon pink Himalayan sea salt

¾ cup of almond milk

1 cup frozen blueberries thawed

Mix well, cook until you get a golden color on each side and enjoy with a 12oz of Mango Treez or Guava Treez.

CARZ, ON WEED?
RANDOM @SS
CAR FACTS 4U

AUTHOR: Jon Adams

I recently spoke to ChatGPT and asked “what is a great economical used car to purchase in the phoenix area that is easy to maintain and has inexpensive parts”. It listed the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic to be the top two options with a price range of ~$8,000-$15,000.  I asked it to redo this query with a $5,000 budget and yet again those two models popped up but with a model year range of 2002-2009.  Ford Focus was in there too in case you have tariffs and domestic brand as your other purchase criteria.  

There’s a great reason why ChatGPT suggested those top two brands, actually a lot great reasons and any former Toyota or Honda owner will tell you most of those reasons.  I like to search Craigslist for vehicles from time to time and lately there’s a ton of people scamming folks on there and a bunch of car dealers pretending not to be car dealerships on there too.  

The main reason is that craigslist is another sales channel for these car dealerships.  It’s typically a used car dealership that has one of their employees list a bunch of cars on there with the same phone number(s) for their cars.  The amount of used vehicle inventory that is available in Phoenix is quite wild.  Unfortunately a lot of people still overpay for a vehicle because they either do not properly inspect the vehicle or just do not do the right amount of research before buying a car.  

So how do you make a good used vehicle purchase?  First use a resource like ChatGPT to identify a good vehicle make/model/year within your budget.  Lookup pricing for that type of vehicle on kbb.com so you may see what most dealerships and private party sellers should be selling it for and make sure you input the correct mileage and as close to the correct options and equipment on it like a sunroof or leather seats, fog lights etc.  You will rarely get the exact model and options in person as on a resource website, it’s just how it is so remain flexible in your research.  Check craigslist just to see what shows up because we are in one of the best used car markets in the country.  Used vehicles here rarely have rust unlike in places with lots of snow or on the coasts.  

Go talk to sellers with the vehicle you are interested in but don’t be afraid to walk away, actually you will be better off walking away.  Step up your negotiating game by having a friend or relative inquire about the same vehicle 30 mins later or before you do.  See how low the seller will go and take off an extra $500 instantly to see if they go for it.  If so, that may mean there is something wrong with the vehicle.  

Make sure you have someone with you that can really inspect the car, it’s impossible to get a seller to allow you to take it to a mechanic for inspection so you have to find someone who knows basic things to look for and is willing to help you for free ideally.  

Personally, all three of these options are great if you can afford them but even if you can’t, the next best step is to research how much the parts for all of these cars will be to get them working great again soon if you have to buy any of these cars in a shittier condition than optimal because it’s cheaper.  That’s car ownership sometimes when shit’s real rough so accepting that is a good step and planning for it by checking which of these cars has cheaper parts but also is it gonna cost more to have someone work on one of these cars over the other.  For example, since Honda is a Japanese brand, those parts are going to likely be exposed to tariff increases if things became unpredictable on a global supply chain scale, for example. Ford parts might be less expensive for example, you have to go check that out for yourself, sometime shit’s real rough remember. 

Follow these steps and rinse and repeat when looking for a newly used car or something formerly new, for example. 

WIERD SCIENCE:
WTF SCI STUFF
YOU SHOULD KNOW

AUTHOR: Drea Goul

According to a Fox News article titled Cannabis compounds could reverse disease affecting one-third of adults, “cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) significantly reduced liver fat and improved metabolic health in experimental models” (Quill). CBG is an important compound involved in the presynthesis of CBD. These compounds are different from the THC found in marijuana, which is responsible for most of the “high”. Since neither of these compounds contain THC, they do not make the consumer “high” which is very valuable for “long-term medical treatment” and “metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)” which “currently affects approximately one-third of the global adult population, according to health data” (Quill). This disease does not have many approved pharmaceutical treatments, which is why this study is important in its findings, where a lead study author, Joseph Tam, found that “CBD and CBG enhance hepatic energy and lysosomal function”. These compounds allow the liver to “function under the stress of a high-fat diet” (Quill). Since this form of medicine needs more research to become regulated, it has not become a clinical way to treat metabolic diseases, but it does open “a new path” according to researchers. As mentioned in the article, “The strongest evidence supports FDA-approved cannabinoid medications for treating specific conditions, including HIV/AIDS-related appetite loss, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and certain severe pediatric seizure disorders” (Quill).

HOTTEST OPEN MICS
IN PHOENIX

AUTHOR: Drea Goul

THE.INTL is a hybrid print culture zine for people who don’t consume culture—they participate in it.

We cover the collision points: art, music, food, science, cars, and local scenes before they hit the mainstream. The 420 Launch Edition sets the standard with underrated artists, weird science worth arguing about, healthy foodz that still go hard, random car facts, and the hottest open mics in Metro Phoenix.

Every article in THE.INTL starts with a QR code. Scan it and you’re dropped straight into a video from the author—on YouTube and TikTok—breaking down their piece, adding context, or going off-script. Print meets motion. Page meets personality. No gatekeepers in between.

Designed to be kept, not skimmed, THE.INTL is culture slowed down and made physical—while still plugged into the internet where conversations actually happen.

This isn’t lifestyle media.
This is culture, documented in real time.

HOW TO READ THE.INTL

Every article in THE.INTL starts with a QR code.

Scan it to hear the author read their article out loud—with commentary, context, and off-book thoughts—via audio-first videos published on YouTube and shared to TikTok.

Print is the foundation.
Audio is the expansion.

Read it. Listen to it. Or do both.
THE.INTL is meant to be experienced, not just read.

ZALZA SKO:
WHAT TO EXPECT

AUTHOR: Jon Adams

The ZALZA Sales Kick Off(SKO) is an annual gathering of individuals that are working together to move forward the vision of the ZALZA.INTL brand.  It is not specifically a focus on sales alone, it is a focus on everything that it takes to create forward progress for a true life brand.  This of course needs to not only be organic as their portfolio but also as fun as possible.  

The first activation they are featuring is their 10Min DJ Set where each guest sends 10 minutes of a playlist they want to share with everyone at the SKO.  Each person also gets to DJ their set live over socials and in front of everyone there in attendance.  They get to wear the DJ ZALZA chain, hat and shades to complete the vibe.  A person close to ZALZA leadership says “the brand wants the community to share the music each guest loves with everyone else because the music we love helps us all connect better and that’s what this SKI is about, connecting”.

There will be a VIP entry that provides an all inclusive gourmet food and beverage pass along with a room overnight at the venue as well as VIP lounge access throughout the SKO.  The VIP lounge will have curated art activations as well as exclusive dining experiences within the lounge space.  There will be a new flavor beverage launch as part of the SKO as well as a new sauce available for everyone attending the ZALZA SKO.  Food and beverages will be available for purchase if the VIP ExperienZ is not your cup of tea. 

Another activation will be THE.INTL Zine cover booth where everyone will be able to walk into the cover of the POST ZALZA SKO EDITION and be part of the TikTok and YouTube series “Making THE.INTL CoverZ” and attendees vote for the cover which will go onto print.

Be prepared to hear from ZALZA about their list of products and eventz for the next few months as everyone enjoys gourmet food and a great atmosphere.

Cultivated Healthy TourZ by ZALZA.

Experience Lake Pleasant like never before—infused, inspired, and unforgettable.

Join ZALZA for an exclusive cannabis-friendly door-to-door day retreat to the scenic shores of Lake Pleasant. Our all-inclusive ZALZA TourZ offer the perfect blend of nature, nourishment, and next-level relaxation in a safe, elevated environment.

🚐 Start your journey with us picking you up at your home in one of our premium SUV shuttles as we play cultivated beats for your ride to a delicious infused organic lunch crafted by our in-house culinary team focused on wellness and flavor at one of our speakeasy locations. Then, ride in comfort to Lake Pleasant in the executive bus with our cannabis-savvy guides leading the way.

🏞️ Once there, enjoy our live DJ performance from one of the Valley’s best resident DJ’s.  Relax and kick back or explore the area via our chauffeured vehicles.  Enjoy one of two guided 10 minute meditation sessions lakeside set with the intention of practicing mindfulness.  You may choose to get active with a variety of healthy athletic activities designed to energize and rejuvenate.  Including a guided hike with our horticulture specialist leading the exploration of onsite plant life.

🌅 As the sun sets over the water, wind down with a gourmet infused dinner—a seasonal, organic meal made to nourish your body and elevate your senses infused to perfection to wrap up a gorgeous day of relaxation.

🚐 We take you back to one of our speakeasy locations and keep the party going until we drive you home safe in our premium SUV shuttles comfortably without the worry of you driving intoxicated and allowing you to enjoy your newest infused memories.

Whether you’re looking to connect, reflect, or simply vibe, ZALZA Lake Pleasant TourZ deliver a unique cannabis-positive experience that’s as adventurous as it is restorative.

All vibes. All views. All infused.

VIP INCLUDES:
Priority Pick-Up & Drop-Off
Priority Seating Everywhere
Personalized TourZ Experience
Unlimited ZALZA MixZology
Unlimited Healthy Snacks
ZALZA GIFTZ BAG w/Free Platinum Goods, Glass, Lighter, Hoodie and Hat
Free Fiji water throughout ZALZA TourZ.
Discounts on upcoming eventz and purchases.

How it works

1. Pick Your Drinks – Juice, iced coffee(soon), sparkling(soon), or a mix

2. Choose Your Frequency – Weekly, biweekly, or monthly

3. Sip & Enjoy – Always fresh, always organic, always on time

Delicious, Organic, and Infused with Intention

No artificial stuff. No shortcuts. Just bold, fresh flavor — handcrafted and delivered cold every Thurzday.

Prepared meals using our home made sauces both frozen or ready to eat.

Our organic, non-GMO, vegan sauces are generational recipes that have been cultured over decades and are now available to you.  We provide our sauces in sample or retail packaging for you to cook with your favorite meals or as part of the meals we provide, both frozen and ready-to-enjoy.  We hot press our live rosin and infuse all of our sauces in small batches.

Your Tummy Will
Thank You

Experience what we do at ZALZA.  The best sauces, best food and beverage experiences.