The Breakup Theory

In this episode, Shuli talks with the wonderful carla joy bergman, a transdisciplinary artist who collaborates with humans and more than human friends. she co-wrote Joyful Militancy and edited Trust Kids! She formerly made the podcast Grounded Futures with her son Uilliam, as well as the On Belonging audio series with Jamie-leigh Gonzalez.

The conversation ranges through the beginning and ending of groups and projects, the necessity of intergenerational organizing, the joys and pains of breaking up with family and loved ones, how we create space together, and the relationship between anarchism, nihilism, and the leftist movements.

To check out more of carla's work you can go to their website joyculcarla.com

Carla has a new podcast project about to launch, which you can find at https://walkingwithchange.captivate.fm/

Special announcement!!!

The Breakup Theory is launching a new project, where we ask you, our listeners, to share your stories of breaking up, conflict with friends and lovers, and any other relationship trouble that you'd like feedback on. One of the main ideas of this podcast was to create a space where queers and anarchists and abolitionists can talk about how their politics and their personal lives entwine. We have set up an online submission form at https://form.jotform.com/thebreakuptheory/stories and a phone line at ‪(917) 426-6548. We will keep the submissions anonymous and won't use any information you don't want to share. You can leave a message or write in, and Caroline, River and Shuli will share your story on the podcast along with a discussion about the issues you raise. We are excited to hear what's going on in your world and help you all break up with what's limiting you!

In this episode, Shuli talks with Conner Habib, author of the novel Hawk Mountain and host of the podcast Against Everyone with Conner Habib. The discussion goes into many different places, with certan themes about the connection between relationships and politics running throughout. We start this discussion talking about "breaking up with the state," an idea Conner discussed on a couple of his podcast episodes and that was influential in Shuli's thinking about the crossover of relationships and politics. The conversation uses both personal and political perspectives to think about the dynamics of the failing state, its fascist grasps at power, what protest can do, how we respond to harm and conflict, and more. Hope you like it!

You can find Conner and his podcast at: patreon.com/connerhabib

In this conversation Shuli talks with Sebastian Merrill, whose debut collection GHOST :: SEEDS was selected by Kimiko Hahn as the winner of the 2022 X. J. Kennedy Poetry Prize, and published by Texas Review Press in November 2023. GHOST :: SEEDS was recently named a winner of 2024 Stonewall Honor Book - Barbara Gittings Literature Award from the American Library Association and was selected by Ellen Doré Watson as the winner of the 2022 Levis Prize for Poetry from Friends of Writers. Sebastian is also a yoga instructor and happens to be a dear friend!

In this conversation, Shuli and Sebastian use his book as a frame to think about transition, the narratives we carry along and try to break with, relating with our ghosts and our grief, the absurdity of gender, and what liberation even means.

Content warning: mention of sexual assault, but with no specific details

You can find out more about Sebastian and buy his book at his website:

https://www.sebastianmerrill.com/

You can also find him on Instagram @seb.merrill

If you like our podcast, please rate and follow us on your podcast app. You can also support us on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thebreakuptheory

This episode has two segments: in the first, Caroline, River, and Shuli address the escalated genocide in Gaza in the wake of October 7, giving more context to some of the references in the previous discussion. In the second, River and Shuli grapple with feelings of despair and hope as an astonishing worldwide, massive solidarity movement rises up and those who govern could care less. We delve into the way these movements create conflicts and opportunities both for our existing relationships and for new comrades and accomplices.

Feel free to rate this podcast and follow us anywhere or on https://www.patreon.com/thebreakuptheory

Links mentioned in the episode:

https://boycotteurovision.uk/index.html (watch the fun videos too, like this: https://youtu.be/pA_fliOVSPg?si=rhpryzFmkcpSqesC!)

12 Rules For What 91 Far Right Mobs on Armistice Day https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/12-rules-for-what/id1453687129?i=1000635261267

And follow @wizard_bisan1 on Instagram!

In this episode, Shuli, River, and Caroline discuss the breakup theory, borrowing lessons from anarchism to think about how to engage in our relationships for mutual liberation. We aim for collective liberation and mutual autonomy. Anarchism can teach us how to end things. But how do we get over ourselves? Here you multiverse of hosts set up the way this podcast will mix theories of liberation with everyday life and love. Follow and support us at https://www.patreon.com/thebreakuptheory/