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POSITIVE POLITICS PODCAST EPISODE 6: SPORT AND THE OLYMPICS.

In this episode, on the eve of the London 2012 Olympics, Joel and Neil explore the politics of sport. Dr Neil Faulkner highlights the stark politics of class division that has marred the Games. Barrister and Stratford resident Brian Richardson tells us about how local people have been excluded and marginalised from the Games in the service of corporate and political interests. Finally, local resident Caroline Day tells of her and others' brave battle to save their beloved Leyton Marsh for future generations and how the full force of the law has been used to expediate the construction of an unnecessary basketball training facility and to punish and criminalise peaceful protesters.

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POSITIVE POLITICS PODCAST EPISODE 5: EDUCATION.

In this episode, Joel and Neil explore the current realities and alternatives of education, specifically higher education, today. We start by interviewing Dr Richard Hall about the struggles of life in the neo-liberal university today where everything is reduced to the logic and interests of money and profit. We then ask Dr Gurnam Singh to help us to think about very different, democratic, empowering, and critical ways of thinking about and engaging in teaching and learning. Finally, we hear from Dr Sarah Amsler about an exciting new project based in Lincoln, UK called the Social Science Centre - an attempt to make real the ideas and values of critical pedagogy and popular education.

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POSITIVE POLITICS PODCAST EPISODE 4: POLITICS, DEMOCRACY, AND REPRESENTATION.

In this episode, Joel and Neil explore the parlous state of democracy in Britain and the United States today. Joel talks about money and power in British politics, giving the example of the recently passed Health and Social Care Act that effectively condemns the UK National Health Service to privatisation. With help from David Cameron, Neil reflects on how politics today is little more than a 'spectacle'. Prof Inderjeet Parmar highlights the limits to American democracy, emphasising the anti-democratic consequences of highly concentrated wealth. Finally, Prof Archon Fung offers hope by giving examples from around the world of pro-democratic changes that have been both driven from below and implemented from above.

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POSITIVE POLITICS PODCAST EPISODE 3: THE EUROZONE CRISIS.

In this episode, Joel and Neil explore the current Eurozone crisis. They hear from Tiana, a Greek state employee, about the horrific social disaster being wreaked on Greek society by the political leaders and banks of France and Germany. They then here from Prof Alex Callinicos about how the Greek people are faced with two choices: a default from above - continue this unbearable pain and have a chaotic default imposed - or a default from below - take immediate pain now, but begin the process of healing and regaining sovereignty. Dr Claes Belfrage tells us about how the Icelandic people did say 'no' to the 'markets', but also how the left-wing government which came to power after the bankruptcy has struggled to implement a progressive agenda, how the left has struggled to unite, and how entrenched reactionary forces have regrouped. Finally, James Meadway tells us how at the heart of this battle between financial capital and European people is a struggle for democracy itself.

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POSITIVE POLITICS PODCAST EPISODE 2: ACTIVISM, RESISTANCE, ORGANISING.

In this episode, Joel and Neil ask 'what can we do to challenge injustices and change our world?' They speak with activists working at the local and national level and highlight the common obstacles, goals, and strategies that activists share globally.

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In this first episode, Neil and Joel explore the politics of austerity.

We follow a Foodbank van delivering food to those in Oxford who need it most. There we hear how the policies of austerity are damaging not just the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable, but also those who were previously self-sufficient.

We then hear from Prof Matthew Watson about how austerity is destroying our economy and welfare state, and is, in reality, the way of making the poor pay for the rich's financial crisis.

Finally, Dr Adam Hanieh tells us how the same neo-liberal policies devastated societies throughout the Middle East and North Africa and how the Arab Spring is a direct popular response to them. The programme is interspersed with inspiring, politically conscious music.

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