PUSHBACK Talks

On 23 September 2026, 87-year-old Maricarmen is forcibly evicted from her home in Madrid. Just two weeks later, she dies in hospital. Her story unraveled live on social media, igniting a fire of rage and solidarity, uniting protesters in the demand for affordable housing across Spain. 

In Episode 2 of Push Back Talks Season 10, Leilani and Fredrik sit down with San Sebastián City Council member Victor Lasa to discuss the reasons behind Spain's protests, and what they reveal about the potential for housing to become a political battleground across Europe. 

What can café con leche and shopping malls tell us about the cities we live in and whose needs they should serve? Tune in for a reflection on livable cities, what housing regulations can realistically change, the extractivist nature of tourism, and what gets lost along the way. 

Find Victor Lasa and Podemos on X:  @victorlasa @Podemos @PodemosEuskadi_

*The Right to Housing Europe! Now and Forever is calling on people across the EU to sign its petition and demand access to adequate, affordable housing for all.

Sign the petition and join the call for change: https://right-to-housing.eu/

Credits: 

Produced by WG Film 

Recorded & Edited by Sebastian Cronholm & Xenia Nikitin 

Music by Florencia Di Concillo 

Editorial Content by Xenia Nikitin 

Social Media & Support Team - Xenia Nikitin & Caithi Cummings 

Support the show

As fascist parties rise within our governments and investment companies profit from speculating on our homes, “Housing is a human right” has become the battle cry of activists, protesters and parliamentarians alike. Now, the questions Fredrik and Leilani began asking when they started filming PUSH (2019), almost ten years ago, matter more than ever. 

In Episode 1 of Season 10, Fredrik and Leilani discuss the non-existent power of international law, governments turning a blind eye to existing human rights guidelines, the myth of real estate culture, broken housing models and Leilani's new bestseller book, Housing Inc. 

Join us on an odyssey inspired by people fighting for their right to housing in Spain and around the world. Together, we’ll explore how the housing crisis can be tackled by rewriting the economic playbook, upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and acting together towards the common good. 

This ethos will guide us throughout the 10th anniversary season of PushBack Talks. 

Stay tuned every other week for a new episode! 

*The Right to Housing Europe! Now and Forever is calling on people across the EU to sign its petition and demand access to adequate, affordable housing for all.

Sign the petition and join the call for change: https://right-to-housing.eu/

Mentioned Books: 

“Housing Inc.: A Global Takeover and Our Fight for Home” by Leilani Farha 

“End times Fascism" by Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor 

“Anti-Fascist Economics” by Isabella Weber 

“The Common Good Economy: a new compass” by Mariana Mazzucato

“The Entrepreneurial State: Debunking Public vs. Private Myths in Risk and Innovation” by Mariana Mazzucato 

Credits: 

Produced by WG Film 

Recorded & Edited by Sebastian Cronholm & Xenia Nikitin 

Music by Florencia Di Concillo 

Editorial Content by Xenia Nikitin 

Social Media & Support Team - Xenia Nikitin & Caithi Cummings 

Support the show

Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"!

This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single word (or two) and unpack how its simple surface hides deeper social, political, and economic realities.

Think of it as thought-provoking “intellectual snacking” – quick enough for your commute, rich enough to shift how you see power, privilege, and the systems around us.

This week’s episode:

Industry: 

In the past, the highest cost for major organizations was paying employees; now wages account for less than 1% of corporate spending! How do we fight back against industry?

Solar: 

Everyone needs some sun, but as oil prices rise, countries that rely on solar power aren't feeling the same economic strain as oil-dependent countries. Is this enough to push more countries towards green energy?

New episodes drop every week.

Make this your ritual for keeping your curiosity – and your resistance – alive!

Support the show

Support the show

Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"!

This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single word (or two) and unpack how its simple surface hides deeper social, political, and economic realities.

Think of it as thought-provoking “intellectual snacking” – quick enough for your commute, rich enough to shift how you see power, privilege, and the systems around us.

This week’s episode:

Wealth Tax: 

The conversation gets enthusiastic as Fredrik and Leilani go head-to-head on the benefits and ethics of a wealth tax in today's political landscape. 

Waterfalls: 

Waterfalls are a special place for both Fredrik and Leilani, who bond over the beauty and exploitation of this natural resource. 

New episodes drop every week.

Make this your ritual for keeping your curiosity – and your resistance – alive!

Support the show

Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"!

This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single word (or two) and unpack how its simple surface hides deeper social, political, and economic realities.

Think of it as thought-provoking “intellectual snacking” – quick enough for your commute, rich enough to shift how you see power, privilege, and the systems around us.

This week’s episode:

Occupied: 

How does the personal versus the political change the meanings of words?

With the word occupied Leilani and Fredrik discuss what gets to take up a space, time or your mind. 

When illegal occupations and erasure of people are happening in several places around the world it’s hard to not let negativity occupy your mind - how do we shift perspectives and what happens when we push another narrative forward? - Do other people follow suit?   

Dandelion: 

Often dismissed as a weed -  the dandelion blooms despite dire conditions. While Fredrik philosophizes about the symbolism it carries, Leilani is reminded of the word's heritage. 

New episodes drop every week.

Make this your ritual for keeping your curiosity – and your resistance – alive!

Support the show

Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"!

This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single word (or two) and unpack how its simple surface hides deeper social, political, and economic realities.

Think of it as thought-provoking “intellectual snacking” – quick enough for your commute, rich enough to shift how you see power, privilege, and the systems around us.

This week’s episode:

Yoghurt: A food that brings Leilani fond memories of her dad. A conversation about heritage, culture and human kindness. The things we carry within us despite borders and occupiers. 

Moonlight: The recent moon landing has put a new light on the celestial body although Fredrik and Leilani have grown tired of the big powers propaganda. Instead they reflect on what happens to us when we get to admire true beauty.

New episodes drop every week.

Make this your ritual for keeping your curiosity – and your resistance – alive!

Support the show

Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"!

This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single word (or two) and unpack how its simple surface hides deeper social, political, and economic realities.

Think of it as thought-provoking “intellectual snacking” – quick enough for your commute, rich enough to shift how you see power, privilege, and the systems around us.

This week’s episode:

Big Tech: What do we know about Big Tech? They influence elections, collect data, and prioritize profit. Dive into a conversation about the Tech "bros" who try to dominate our lives. 

Resilience: People all around the world show incredible resilience as they fight for a better future. But how can we maintain this stamina? Join in on this week's conversation about resilience.    

New episodes drop every week.

Make this your ritual for keeping your curiosity – and your resistance – alive!

Support the show

Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"!

This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single word (or two) and unpack how its simple surface hides deeper social, political, and economic realities.

Think of it as thought-provoking “intellectual snacking” – quick enough for your commute, rich enough to shift how you see power, privilege, and the systems around us.

This week’s episode:

Profit: Is there a neutral definition of the word profit? In a time when kleptocratic networks are being exposed and organisations working for profit and profit only are increasingly prevalent - what does profit mean? 

Spring: As the snow is slowly melting away and the sun makes a welcomed appearance Lelani and Fredrik reflect on the thoughts that spring brings -  the circle of life, rebirth and hope for the future. 

New episodes drop every week.

Make this your ritual for keeping your curiosity – and your resistance – alive!

Support the show

Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"!

This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single word (or two) and unpack how its simple surface hides deeper social, political, and economic realities.

Think of it as thought-provoking “intellectual snacking” – quick enough for your commute, rich enough to shift how you see power, privilege, and the systems around us.

This week’s episode:

Greta: a conversation about Greta Thunberg's journey towards Palestinian action and what it takes to make a change. 🇵🇸🌍 

Empathy: a discussion about the importance of empathy for everyone while acknowledging the difficulty of extending empathy to people who hurt others. What does it mean to be empathetic, and how is empathy a path for change?

New episodes drop every week.

Make this your ritual for keeping your curiosity – and your resistance – alive!

Support the show

Pushback Talks Season 9 is here with "Word Food"!

This season, Fredrik & Leilani return with their signature bite-sized episodes: sharp, surprising, 15-minute explorations of the words that shape our world. Each week, they pick a single word (or two) and unpack how its simple surface hides deeper social, political, and economic realities.

Think of it as thought-provoking “intellectual snacking” – quick enough for your commute, rich enough to shift how you see power, privilege, and the systems around us.

This week’s episode:

Revolution: an examination of the heavy often violent connotations of the term 'Revolution' coupled with conversation about the power of peaceful transformation.  

The Flood: a dive into the fragility of car centric cities, and the importance of bike-friendly infrastructure. 

New episodes drop every week.

Make this your ritual for keeping your curiosity – and your resistance – alive!

Support the show

Support the show

Support the show