Life of the Party

By Ampersounds Productions

Life of the Party takes you inside the debates, personalities and politics shaping the new left party in the UK. Hosts Shanice, Jonas and Joe bring critical analysis, unfiltered takes, and lively d

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FAQs about Life of the Party:

How many episodes does Life of the Party have?

The podcast currently has 26 episodes available.

Life of the Party episodes:

August 03, 2026 25: Talkin' About The Good Life
Joe breaks down the Greater Manchester mayoral race and argues that poor candidate selection and even worse political strategy had a significant role to play in the Greens’ bad showing. While Jonas then offers us some thoughts on the contemporary challenges to reaching the Good Life, provoking a deeper conversation on how the internet and the attention economy are harming our collective bonds.

READINGS

John Trickett - The End of Social Democracy
⁠Christopher Nolan - The Odyssey
Jonas Patrick Marvin - The Breaking of the English Working Class

CREDITS

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut⁠⁠.
Design by Rachel Carr / rachelcarr.co.uk
Music by Benjamin Tissot / 9INTLNTLWTYTDKVN
After Hours Music by Marcus P / MADSQ4HJPOYFTZ1T
Become a supporter: ⁠lifeoftheparty.uk⁠
Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠.

This is an Ampersounds production.

CREDITS

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Design by Rachel Carr / rachelcarr.co.uk
Music by Benjamin Tissot / 9INTLNTLWTYTDKVN
After Hours Music by Marcus P / MADSQ4HJPOYFTZ1T
Become a supporter: ⁠⁠lifeoftheparty.uk⁠⁠
Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

⁠This is an Ampersounds production.⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1h 40min
July 20, 2026 24: Cruel Optimism: Can Ecosocialism Stop the Climate Crisis?
In this week's episode, Jonas takes us through the latest wave of machinations within the Labour Party, arguing that Andy Burnham’s strategy is neither radical nor realistic. Afterwards, Joe asks some fundamental questions of eco socialist strategy, pondering to what extent we could mitigate the climate crisis and what vision of eco socialism is possible on a burning planet.

READINGS

C.L.R. James - The Black Jacobins
Erik Olin Wright - How to Be an Anticapitalist in the Twenty-First Century
China Miéville - Embassytown

CREDITS

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut for ⁠Ampersounds Productions⁠.
Design by Rachel Carr / rachelcarr.co.uk
Music by Benjamin Tissot / 9INTLNTLWTYTDKVN
After Hours Music by Marcus P / MADSQ4HJPOYFTZ1T
Become a supporter: lifeoftheparty.uk
Follow us on Instagram.

This is an Ampersounds production.

CREDITS

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Design by Rachel Carr / rachelcarr.co.uk
Music by Benjamin Tissot / 9INTLNTLWTYTDKVN
After Hours Music by Marcus P / MADSQ4HJPOYFTZ1T
Become a supporter: ⁠⁠lifeoftheparty.uk⁠⁠
Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

⁠This is an Ampersounds production.⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1h 21min
July 06, 2026 23: Immigration: Is the Left Getting It Right?
In this week's episode, Joe raises doubts about the Green Party's choice of candidate in the Manchester mayoralty - spurring wider questions about leadership on the left. After discussing the Green Party's proposals for internal democratic reform, your hosts zoom out to discuss politics' most significant wedge issue: immigration. Shanice opens by critiquing the left's go to arguments, proposing an alternative lens for viewing the critical yet divisive immigration debate.

READINGS
Joshua Virasami - A World Without Racism: Building Antiracist FuturesThe Productive State - A Framework for Manchesterism Margaret Kennedy - The Feast
Resonance FM - English Stitch
Please subscribe, comment and leave a review!

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut for Ampersounds Productions.

Become a supporter: lifeoftheparty.uk

Follow us on Instagram.

This is an Ampersounds production.

CREDITS

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Design by Rachel Carr / rachelcarr.co.uk
Music by Benjamin Tissot / 9INTLNTLWTYTDKVN
After Hours Music by Marcus P / MADSQ4HJPOYFTZ1T
Become a supporter: ⁠⁠lifeoftheparty.uk⁠⁠
Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

⁠This is an Ampersounds production.⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h 19min
June 22, 2026 22: Burnham Wins Makerfield: Is It Time For a Progressive Alliance?
Jonas runs through Burnham’s big win in Makerfield and what it might mean for the Labour Party and the country, while Joe gives a deep cut on progressive alliances, assessing their history, viability and whether the Greens should sign up.

Live show
London 3rd July - Get Your Tickets

Readings
All in: A Revolutionary Theory to Stop Climate Collapse
Bitch: A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Evolution and the Female Animal
The Secret History Donna Tartt

Please subscribe, comment and leave a review!
Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut for Ampersounds Productions.
Become a supporter: lifeoftheparty.uk

CREDITS

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Design by Rachel Carr / rachelcarr.co.uk
Music by Benjamin Tissot / 9INTLNTLWTYTDKVN
After Hours Music by Marcus P / MADSQ4HJPOYFTZ1T
Become a supporter: ⁠⁠lifeoftheparty.uk⁠⁠
Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

⁠This is an Ampersounds production.⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h 17min
June 08, 2026 21: The First 6 Months of Mayor Mamdani
Shanice opens up the episode probing why the left’s response to the killing of Henry Nowak has been so lukewarm, whilst Joe gives us a deep dive into six months of Zohran Mamdani’s mayoralty, assessing what’s gone well and what challenges might arise for the young democratic socialist politician.

Live show:
London 3rd July - Get your tickets!

Readings
Patrick Radden Keefe - London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth
H. V. Morton - In Search of England
Asad Haider - Mistaken Identity: Race and Class in the Age of Trump
Please subscribe, comment and leave a review!

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut for Ampersounds Productions.
Become a supporter: lifeoftheparty.uk

Follow us on Instagram.

This is an Ampersounds production.

CREDITS

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Design by Rachel Carr / rachelcarr.co.uk
Music by Benjamin Tissot / 9INTLNTLWTYTDKVN
After Hours Music by Marcus P / MADSQ4HJPOYFTZ1T
Become a supporter: ⁠⁠lifeoftheparty.uk⁠⁠
Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

⁠This is an Ampersounds production.⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h 27min
May 25, 2026 20: LIVE SHOW! Andy Burnham and British Politics After the Local Elections (Norwich Transformed)
Who is Andy Burnham? What is Manchesterism? Should the Greens be afraid of Labour's so-called soft left? Jonas, Joe and Shanice dissect the state of British politics after the local elections, and ask where next for the Left in a rapidly disintegrating two-party system.

This episode was recorded live at Norwich Transformed 2026.

Please subscribe, comment and leave a review!

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut for Ampersounds Productions.

Become a supporter: lifeoftheparty.uk

Follow us on Instagram.

This is an Ampersounds production.

CREDITS

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Design by Rachel Carr / rachelcarr.co.uk
Music by Benjamin Tissot / 9INTLNTLWTYTDKVN
After Hours Music by Marcus P / MADSQ4HJPOYFTZ1T
Become a supporter: ⁠⁠lifeoftheparty.uk⁠⁠
Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

⁠This is an Ampersounds production.⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h 1min
May 11, 2026 19: Antisemitism, Local Elections and the End of Two Party Duopoly
In this week’s episode, Joe takes us on a tour through the recent local elections as we contemplate the end of the two-party system and the brewing Green insurgency. Then Shanice discusses two of this disintegrating system’s morbid symptoms: the rise of both antisemitism and moral panics about antisemitism, asking how the left fights both racism towards Jews and the instrumentalisation of Jewish identity by bad faith actors defending a broken political settlement.
Readings

Abram Leon - The Jewish Question

Hackney Green Party Manifesto
Callum Cant and Matthew Lee - The Future in our Past: The General Strike

Please subscribe, comment and leave a review!

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut for ⁠⁠⁠Ampersounds Productions.⁠⁠⁠

Become a supporter: ⁠⁠⁠https://lifeoftheparty.uk/ ⁠⁠⁠
Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠.

This is an Ampersounds production.

CREDITS

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Design by Rachel Carr / rachelcarr.co.uk
Music by Benjamin Tissot / 9INTLNTLWTYTDKVN
After Hours Music by Marcus P / MADSQ4HJPOYFTZ1T
Become a supporter: ⁠⁠lifeoftheparty.uk⁠⁠
Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

⁠This is an Ampersounds production.⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h 37min
April 27, 2026 18: Your Party Is Dead, But Are The Greens Enough?
Jonas breaks down the latest shenanigans inside Your Party and the crew ask themselves how it got so bad. Whilst Joe offers some thoughts on what we do next, now that it seems the Jeremy Corbyn-led party has entered into a zombie state.
Readings

Anton Jäger - Hyperpolitics: Extreme Politicization without Political Consequences

Laleh Khalili - Extractive Capitalism: How Commodities and Cronyism Drive the Global Economy

Lotte L.S. - An Economy of Starlings

Please subscribe, comment and leave a review!

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut for ⁠⁠Ampersounds Productions.⁠⁠

Become a supporter: ⁠⁠https://lifeoftheparty.uk/ ⁠⁠
Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

This is an Ampersounds production.

CREDITS

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Design by Rachel Carr / rachelcarr.co.uk
Music by Benjamin Tissot / 9INTLNTLWTYTDKVN
After Hours Music by Marcus P / MADSQ4HJPOYFTZ1T
Become a supporter: ⁠⁠lifeoftheparty.uk⁠⁠
Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

⁠This is an Ampersounds production.⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h 38min
April 20, 2026 Live Shows! We’re Coming to Bristol (April 28) , Norwich (May 16) & London (June 4)
Come see the Life of the Party Live!

Ticket links:

April 28th in Bristol w/ the Bristol Cable.
May 16th in Norwich w/ Norwich Transformed.
June 4th in London: email [email protected] w/ 'London Event' in the subject line.

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2min
April 13, 2026 17: The Troubled Story of the Socialist Workers’ Party
Shanice opens us up by comparing the outwards-looking priorities of Zack Polanski’s Greens with their fraught neighbours in Your Party. Whilst Jonas uses the opportunity of the recent mass anti-racist Together march to deep dive into one of its central organisers: the Socialist Workers Party.
Readings

John Maynard Keynes - The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money

Red Mole Substack - Duncan Chapel

Comrade Delta - D K Renton

Please subscribe, comment and leave a review!

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut for ⁠Ampersounds Productions.⁠

Become a supporter: ⁠https://lifeoftheparty.uk/ ⁠
Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠.

This is an Ampersounds production.

CREDITS

Hosted by Shanice McBean, Jonas Marvin and Joe Todd.
Edited by Marcus Berdaut⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Design by Rachel Carr / rachelcarr.co.uk
Music by Benjamin Tissot / 9INTLNTLWTYTDKVN
After Hours Music by Marcus P / MADSQ4HJPOYFTZ1T
Become a supporter: ⁠⁠lifeoftheparty.uk⁠⁠
Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

⁠This is an Ampersounds production.⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h 23min

FAQs about Life of the Party:

How many episodes does Life of the Party have?

The podcast currently has 26 episodes available.