PUSHBACK Talks

What happens when Elon Musk's anti-union Tesla meets Sweden's powerful labor movement? Since October 2023, Swedish workers have maintained the country's longest strike in a century, with solidarity spreading across Nordic countries. In this episode, Fredrik and Leilani speak with German Bender, chief analyst at Arena think tank and Harvard Labor researcher, about how this historic standoff represents a clash between Silicon Valley's corporate libertarianism and the Nordic model of collective bargaining. Learn why dockworkers, postal workers, and even Norway's sovereign wealth fund have joined the resistance – and what this conflict means for worker rights globally.

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Canadian Member of Parliament Leah Gazan (New Democratic Party, Manitoba) joins Fredrik and Leilani to explore how nations and individuals can stand firm against authoritarianism without succumbing to despair. Drawing from her family's experience with genocide across two continents, Gazan offers insights into transforming collective anxiety into meaningful action and leadership. Leah reminds us that in times of great challenge, we have a choice: to give in to pessimism or to use this moment to advance human rights and dignity. A timely discussion about finding courage in community and remembering that history's darkest hours have often preceded its most profound transformations.

Learn more about Leah's work here.

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Finland has achieved what many countries still deem impossible: significantly reducing long-term homelessness through a Housing First model. Finland's model, which has reduced homelessness by 80% since 2008, doesn't just provide housing – it prevents homelessness through strategic urban planning, integrated support services, and proactive intervention.

Join Fredrik and Leilani as they speak with Juha Kahila, Head of International Affairs at Y-Säätiö (Y-Foundation), about Finland's comprehensive approach to ending homelessness. The three discuss how homelessness isn't inevitable, but rather a result of policy choices – and how this pragmatic model could offer a blueprint for ending homelessness worldwide.

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In our first episode of the new year, Leilani and Kirsten sit down with former Victoria Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bell to examine Australia's housing challenges and their global implications. Drawing on his 15 years on Victoria's highest court and his book "Housing: The Great Australian Right," Bell explores the realities of intergenerational housing access and its broader impacts on society. From young families navigating the market to older women facing housing insecurity, he illustrates how housing systems reflect our collective values—and how they can be reshaped. As both a former judge and lifelong advocate, Bell presents a practical case for change through human rights legislation. His conversation with Leilani and Kirsten weaves together climate considerations, gender equity, and housing affordability, offering a look back at the history of housing in Australia, and a clear vision for building housing systems that work for everyone.

You can find Kevin's book, The Great Australian Right, here.

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What if public housing could be a solution, not a symptom of urban inequality? Singapore offers an alternative to the traditional narrative of state-sponsored housing. In this episode, Fredrik, Leilani, and National University of Singapore Professor Kwan Ok Lee unpack an extraordinary housing system that defies global expectations. By transforming apartments into instruments of social cohesion, Singapore has created a model that challenges everything we know about urban living, community development, and civic belonging. Learn how one city-state turned housing into a strategic national asset that integrates, empowers, and connects its diverse population.

Learn more about Kwan Ok Lee's work as Associate Professor and Dean's Chair at the Business School and Deputy Head in the NUS Department of Real Estate.

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Cities are the frontline of our global challenges – from climate change to housing crises. In this powerful episode of Pushback Talks, Deputy Mayor of Paris Christophe Najdovski reveals how progressive urban leadership can transform cities into resilient, livable ecosystems. From challenging powerful car lobbies to reimagining urban spaces, Najdovski and Mayor Anne Hidalgo are pioneering a radical approach that proves environmental action and social justice can go hand in hand. Hear how Paris is fighting populism, creating climate-adaptive infrastructure, and offering a blueprint for urban transformation that could reshape cities worldwide. As the global urban population continues to grow, this conversation offers a beacon of hope and practical inspiration for building the cities of our future.

Learn more about Paris's climate strategy.

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In Nigeria's largest city, a powerful story is unfolding - one that shines a light on the urgent struggle for housing rights and urban resilience. In this episode, we sit down with the creative team behind the new film "The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos," which dramatizes the real-life tragedy of the Otodo Gbame informal settlement.

Between November 2016 and April 2017, over 30,000 residents of this waterfront community were violently evicted, with nine drowning and two shot in the process. Our guests - lead actor Temi Ami-Williams, director/producer Bisola Akinmuyiwa, and director Temi Ogungbamila - have worked tirelessly with community members to craft a cinematic experience that demands our attention.

But this is more than a movie - it's a work of resistance, part of a broader campaign led by Slum Dwellers International. For decades, they've stood alongside organized communities to challenge forced evictions and build inclusive cities.

You can also support the launch of the film, or request a screening.

Learn more about the film, and the work of Slum Dwellers International.

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In the finale of our series on The Shift Directives, our experts examine the staggering scale and far-reaching impact of institutional investment on housing. 

What could we gain if housing investment and housing redevelopment complied with human rights standards? Leilani and Sam tackle thorny issues like tax advantages for REITs and the alarming trend of financializing vulnerable housing sectors such as student accommodations and long-term care homes.

Leilani and Sam also preview an exciting new resource - the Investor Guidelines. Developed over the last year, these guidelines demonstrate that smart investment and housing as a human right can coexist. We offer a glimpse into this groundbreaking new tool (which is out today!) and the possibility of transforming the role of investors in the housing sector.

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In this critical third installment of our series on The Shift Directives, Sam, Leilani, and Kirsten delve into the intricate dance between local, national, and international policies, exposing how disconnects in governance can leave vulnerable citizens without a roof over their heads. Leilani and Sam dissect the multi-level approach needed to effectively implement housing rights and talk about how The Shift Directives were designed to do just that.

From innovative local initiatives to game-changing national policies, this episode equips listeners with a deeper understanding of how governments can—and must—work together to secure the right to housing for all.

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In the second installment of this four-part special series, Pushback Talks Producer Kirsten delves deeper into The Shift Directives with Leilani & Sam.

Leilani and Sam get into Directive 7 of The Shift Directives, which is all about protecting tenants and creating spaces for them to participate in the future of their communities.

Together the three cut to the heart of modern housing challenges: AI-driven rent hikes, the cascading crisis of unaffordability and evictions, and the looming specter of homelessness. Leilani and Sam lay out the urgent need for robust tenant protections, advocating for a seismic shift towards transparency, meaningful participation, and the integration of human rights principles in housing policies.

Read The Shift Directives and follow the series for the next four weeks.

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