As 2015 comes to a close, here's a podcast and a post that's something in between a best of and a year in review. It's a look back at some of my interviews from 2015, both in terms of significant subjects and personal favourites. Everything from the rise and fall of hope for Syriza in Greece to the meaning of stalling business investment in the US to Jane McAlevey on old-school organizing as they way the left can win again.

2015: Podcasting year in review

A lefty take on politics and economics in Canada and beyond. Catch journalist Michal Rozworski interview leading left economists, journalists and other figures on topics of the day.

This week, two labour historians talk about their new books on Canadian and US workers’ movements in the 20th century, books which offer important and practical lessons for unions today. First up, I speak with Barry Eidlin, Assistant Professor of Sociology at McGill University, about his just-published book, Labor and the Class Idea in the […]

Labour’s fate and revival in the US and Canada

Last Thursday was a dark day in Ontario as the Conservative Party led by businessman-bully-bullshitter Doug Ford won a majority in the provincial election. Two guests assess the factors behind the Ford’s win and the chances for building an effective opposition to the coming right-wing agenda for Canada’s most populous province. First up, Doug Nesbitt, […]

How Doug Ford won and how to challenge him

This episode is dedicated to the recent, inspiring and victorious teachers’ strike in West Virginia. West Virginia teachers went out on strike in late February over low pay and continued attacks on the health insurance plan they share with all other state workers. They stayed out despite an initial deal signed by the Governor and […]

West Virginia teachers strike to win

First, I speak with Angella MacEwen about the on-going NAFTA re-negotiations and whether Trudeau's much-vaunted "progressive free trade" holds water. Angella has been a guest on the show before and is an economist at the Canadian Labour Congress. Speaking of the Labour Congress, my second guest, David Bush, looks at the turmoil that led up and has resulted from Unifor leaving Canada's house of labour. David is an editor at Rankandfile.ca and write frequently on the labour movement.

The problems with progressive free trade and a divided labour movement

On this episode, three guests provide some perspective on the politics and the economics of the Fight for $15. First, I speak with Jonathan Rosenblum, campaign director at the first Fight for $15 at SeaTac Airport, just outside Seattle, Washington. Workers there won an immediate raise to $15 via a municipal ordinance in 2015. Jon is also an […]

2015: Podcasting year in review

Download our free app to listen on your phone