The Arts of Travel

How do we pursue justice when 'losing is likely'? How can faith teach us to better care for the earth? Why does the technocratic language of the  White Western Left, fail in providing spiritual reasons for overturning Capitalism?  I discussed all this with  Dr. Brad East of Abilene Christian University & his essay for The Point Magazine: 'When Losing is Likely, Wendell Berry's Conservative Radicalism'

Dr. East's essay for The Point Magazine, When Losing is Likely, Wendell Berry's Conservative Radicalism,  can be found here: https://thepointmag.com/criticism/when-losing-is-likely/

For more with Dr. East you can read his collected writings here: https://www.bradeast.org/about 

Music by Prod Riddiman: https://www.youtube.com/c/ProdRiddiman/videos

I spoke to Chang Che of SupChina for a fascinating conversation on Wang Huning, the strategist behind Xi Jinping & the Modern CCP

We discuss Wang's role in crafting China's authoritarianism to implement capitalist reforms, how Wang's writings convinced party leaders that America would ultimately collapse, the current state of Nihilism in both the US and China amongst young people, and the contrasting legacy of China's 'Covid-Zero' and America's "Covid for Everyone". 

For more w. Chang please read his work on Sup China here: https://supchina.com/author/changche/

You can also find a website of all his writings here: https://changnche.com/

Music by Prod Riddiman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyLbRJEFSa8 

I spoke to Paul Passavant, author of: Policing Protest: The Post-Democratic State and the Figure of Black Insurrection. We discuss the policing of protest in America, how public spaces have slowly become privatized and thus subject to policing, and the future of protest inside an increasingly authoritarian U.S 

For more w. Dr. Passavant you can find his book here, out on Duke University Press: https://www.dukeupress.edu/policing-protest

Music by Prod Riddiman: https://www.youtube.com/c/ProdRiddiman/videos 

I spoke to Central Asia expert Colleen Wood on the history of Russian Colonialism in Central Asia. Topics include how Russia structured Central Asia economies, how the Soviet system sought to instill Nationalism and break traditional viewpoints on nature, and how the influx of Russians fleeing Putin's War is raising new questions about "whiteness" and racism within the region. 

For more of Colleen's work please check out her website here: https://colleenwood.rocks/

Music by Scarim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXOwuxwMzfs  

We spoke to Ananth Krishnan of The Hindu & The India-China Newsletter for a deep dive on how India sees China & how China sees India. 

We discuss the points of cooperation and tension between the two nations, the horrific synchronicity islamophobic nationalism in both nations, the differences in how these countries see spaces like Tibet, The LAC or Taiwan, and if authoritarianism is the future for India & China. 

For more if Ananth's writing you can see his work regularly in the Hindu, and subscribe to his newsletter here: https://indiachina.substack.com/

Music by Prod Riddiman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhOaj6JkI0M

I spoke to policy expert Temur Umarov on the economic relationships between Central Asia, Russia & China as well as how regional policies (Xinjiang, One Belt One Road, The War in Ukraine) are impacting capitalism throughout the region. 

It's a fascinating conversation on Neoliberalism, Shock Therapy, and the global importance of Central Asia. For more w. Temur, you can find his biography here: https://carnegiemoscow.org/experts/1738

Music by Scarim: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDWvl8awZxSfoPRtsjw2zhw 

I spoke to academic & activist Lokman Tsui on the loss of Press Freedom in Hong Kong. 

Lokman (a former journalism professor at Chinese University of Hong Kong) explains the history of Hong Kong's once robust free press, how this was dismantled after Hong Kong's massive democracy protests, what the media 'red lines' are now in Hong Kong, and his hope for how Hong Kong can regain a free press. 

For more w. Lokman, please follow his Twitter at: https://twitter.com/lokmantsui

Music by Lethal Needle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n84U0ZEee3U

I spoke to Dr. Quito Swan of Indiana University on revolutionary scientist Pauulu Kamarakafego and his journey through the Black Pacific, Black Atlantic & Africa to decolonize science. 

We discuss the differences between the Black Pacific & Black Atlantic, how colonizers used their hold over science to cower the colonized, and how revolutionaries like Paulu (Known as ROOSE in his native Bermuda) sought to turn science against the colonizers and decolonize science.

For more w. Dr. Swan please see his new book ' Pasifika Black' coming out this April 2022 on NYU Press about the Black Pacific: https://nyupress.org/9781479885084/pasifika-black/

And for more on Dr. Swan's work on the life of Pauulu Kamarakafego you can find his text 'Pauulu's Diaspora' on University of Florida Press: https://www.google.com/search?q=pauulu%27s+diaspora&oq=pauulu%27s+diaspora&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60l2.3939j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Music by Scarim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-1qktFaGpE 

We spoke to Dr. Sabina Knight of Smith for a two-part conversation on her book: Chinese Literature: A Very Short Introduction.

In Part 2 (our conclusion) we discuss the literature of China's May 4th movement, the literature of the cultural revolution & Nobel-Prize winning author Mo Yan 

In part one, we discussed the historic & contemporary influence that Daoism, Confucianism & Anti-War Poetry have had on China's literature & literary culture.

For more w. Dr. Knight you can find her book here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/chinese-literature-a-very-short-introduction-9780195392067?cc=us&lang=en&

And on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/SabinaKnight1

Music by Lethal Needle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hrz74Wi_GC4

I spoke to Dr. Maria Repnikova, author of "Chinese Soft Power" to discuss how Chinese and Russian State Media report on Ukraine to their domestic audiences. We also discuss Hong Kong, Aileen Gu, "Little Pinks", Patriarchy, Chomsky and "Wolf Warriors" 

For more of Dr. Repnikova's work you can see her website here: https://www.mariarepnikova.com/

Music by Scarim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vajWNeGy1Og