There’s something refreshingly concrete happening in Denver. While much of the national conversation on the US Left remains trapped in familiar debates—electoral versus non-electoral strategy, institutional power versus movement building—folks on the ground in the Mile High City are quietly doing something more fundamental: They are building relationships, skills, and shared political culture. Cooperation 5280 is offering a clear example of what that looks like in practice.

This week Shane spoke with Sid Farber and Mario Reyes, two of the co-founders of Cooperation 5280 in Denver, Co.

In an era when corporate consolidation dominates emerging markets, a different model is taking root in Rhode Island—one grounded in democracy, equity, and community ownership. Their approach to incubating cooperative cannabis businesses is not just about helping to incubate a new industry. It is about transforming who owns it, who benefits from it, and what it is for. Andre Dev, MD is founder of the Community Cannabis Network (CNN) of Rhode Island, a transformative community development initiative led by Rhode Island workers, business owners, activists, and non-profits to build a worker-led cannabis economy. Focused on cooperatively owned dispensaries, CCN is supporting the development of six competitive, cooperatively-owned dispensaries across the state while leveraging cooperative principles to create a market rooted in equity, sustainability, and community wealth-building, and which begins to remedy the harms of the War on Drugs.

Nakeshka Iyengar of the Guild in Atlanta fosters community resilience and combats gentrification through collective action.

In a world where environmental degradation and social injustices are rampant, the question arises: how can communities come together to create lasting change? In this podcast, we explore insights from David and Shane's conversation with Nakeshka Iyengar, founder of the Guild in Atlanta, who emphasizes the importance of community resilience and collective action. By understanding the interconnectedness of societal issues like gentrification, climate change, and economic inequality, we can begin to take actionable steps towards building a more equitable future.

In this episode of Redneck Gone Green, host David Cobb sits down with hip hop artist and revolutionary organizer Mic Crenshaw to explore the interconnected crises facing our world—climate devastation, imperialist conflicts, white supremacy, and the cultural struggles within hip hop and broader society. Together, they unpack the deep roots of systemic oppression and the urgent need for collective action rooted in cultural resistance and radical change.

Discover the importance of deep ecology and community solidarity in the face of environmental crises. Learn how collective action is vital for our survival. Shane and David speak with Rob Persons, Director of Development for the Institute for Social Ecology. Rob is also the Project Manager at the Center for Study and Advocacy to Reduce Wealth and Income Inequality.

Shane and I had a brilliant conversation this week with Professor Stephen Zunes, an American political scientist and Middle East scholar best known for his research documenting how nonviolent movements challenge authoritarian rule and for his critical analysis of U.S. foreign policy. Zunes has expressed support for the courageous grassroots protests that have periodically erupted in Iran while warning that overt U.S. involvement can undermine their legitimacy. Democratic transformation, he argues, must ultimately be driven by Iranian civil society rather than external pressure from geopolitical rivals.

In this episode of Redneck Gone Green, host David Cobb and Shane Knight explore the urgent issues of global conflict, economic crisis, and systemic oppression. Featuring Isaiah Rucker Jr. of Blackout the System, they discuss grassroots resistance, community building, and strategies for systemic change in a turbulent world.

In this episode of Redneck Gone Green, hosts David Cobb and Shane Knight discuss the interconnectedness of life through the lens of deep ecology, the ongoing unconstitutional war in Iran, and the implications of military actions without congressional approval. They explore public responses to war, the importance of activism, and the need for education and mobilization to effect change. The conversation also touches on positive developments in environmental policy, highlighting the potential for progress amidst chaos.

In this episode of Redneck Gone Green, host David Cobb engages in a deep conversation with Professor Anthony Cook about the interconnectedness of life, the importance of the Black radical tradition, and the role of cooperative grocery stores in addressing food insecurity. They discuss the systemic injustices of food apartheid and the need for community ownership and mutual aid in building a just economy. The conversation emphasizes the importance of activism, education, and the moral core of social movements, encouraging listeners to take practical steps towards creating cooperative models in their own communities.

In this enlightening episode of "Redneck Gone Green," David Cobb, Shane Knight, and Ajamu Baraka shed light on the crucial interplay between ecology and social justice. They remind us that our fight for a sustainable planet is inseparable from the struggle against racism, imperialism, and capitalism. As we navigate these challenging times, it's essential to embrace intersectionality, engage in meaningful dialogue, and take actionable steps toward creating a more just and equitable world.