Thorn in Your Side

m* meets with Tim to discuss David Harvey's 2014 book 'Seventeen Contradictions and the End of Capitalism' and find that the book still holds up. Both also explore the prospect that Capitalism is indeed ending, but unfortunately not in a good way.

CW - Mental health themes also discussed in this episode.

Episode Links:

Explainer for 'Seventeen Contradictions and the End of Capitalism': Seventeen Contradictions And The End Of Capitalism By David Harvey (societyandspace"

An explainer on Yanis Varoufakis's new book 'Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism', mentioned in this episode and to which m* and Tim intend to review and discuss in a future TIYS episode: Technofeudalism As Explained By Yanis Varoufakis - The Sanders Institute

'The Anti-Capitalist Chronicles' - a podcast presented by David Harvey: Podcast: David Harvey's Anti-Capitalist Chronicles - Reading Marx's Capital with David Harvey 

m* celebrates his TIYS episode milestone by bringing things back to where they started - a trip to interview his comrade, Peter Perkins. Lots of TIYS reflection, analysis of the world, and what is to be done. That is, what might be done to make this podcast even better! Oh yeah, and the whole revolution thing too...

Link:

ACTU Inquiry into price gouging and unfair pricing practices (actu.org.au)

Music used in episode:

"Lobo Loco" - Bella Hayes

m* and John talk about hot topics surrounding WWE and pro-wrestling in general - watching "The Iron Claw" movie, the Vince McMahon scandal, and what makes pro-wrestling a sellable item (i.e. getting in the political discussion). Will this lead to a dedicated political pro-wrestling channel? Let us know!

Link:

Looking at the 'mega-corporations': Breaking Down The Big 7 Tech Players' Outsized Roles | Nasdaq

Music used in episode:

"Lobo Loco" - Bella Hayes

"When You Leave Me" - Sero

Something old and something new this episode - m* checks in with the latest news regarding his health status, and also dabbles in some world news. Namely, the catastrophe on the Gaza Strip and the rich white man catastrophe that is Vince McMahon. Hopefully this formula works moving ahead to future TIYS lone wolf episodes, feedback is welcome!

Link:

Guardian article discussing the political climate within Europe: Crises have split European voters into five ‘tribes’, survey suggests | European elections | The Guardian

Music used in episode:

"A Song of Peace" - Finlandia

"Dopey Cat Strikes Back" - AK-Fru

"Escape from Reality" - Denis Kasatkin

"Sub Lime" - AK-Fru

m* reflects over what has amounted to be the toughest year of his life, and what is the state of play in the world. The usual light fare to see out the year.

Music used in episode:

"Slow Motion" - Benjamin Tissot

"Winning Elevation" - Hot_Dope 

m*'s first attempt at a news-of-the-day discussion panel, where things went not-so-much to plan logistics-wise, but he was still able to get out a recording of what was talked about. On the panel with m* is Kate, a community worker who returns to TIYS, and Josh, another community worker who makes his TIYS debut. So, a royal flush of community workers!

Links:

David Marr's new book on the Native Police: Killing for Country by David Marr | Black Inc. (blackincbooks.com.au)

m*'s Claymore journal article: (40) Working Together in Claymore: An Examination of Long-Term Community Works Between Local Services and Residents. | Michael Thorn - Academia.edu

NDIS reform statement by Oz Government: Co-designing reform | NDIS

"Through Mountains and Valleys" - Flint

John and m* get in on the cultural phenomenon known as the Barbenheimer viewing, the viewing of two concurrently released movies at the cinemas known separately as Barbie and Oppenheimer. John and m* analyse what all the fuss was about.

Spoiler alert: m* is still left wondering about this....

Music used in episode:

"Cyberabad" - AK Fru

"Hope And A Future" - Edgar Hopp

"What Are You Doing Here?" - Michele Nobler

"What Floor?" - idokay

m* and regular contributor John take on the difficult assignment of comparing two X-Men films both attempting to adapt the infamous Dark Phoenix Saga comic book storyline. The first film, X-Men: The Last Stand, made the first attempt at adaptation in 2006 while the second attempt happened in 2019 with the screening of Dark Phoenix. While it was unsurprisingly found that both films pale in comparison to the comic storyline, what is surprising is the wealth of political critique to be gained with this unique nerdy retrospective. Score!

Music used in episode:

"Dopey Cat Strikes Back" - AK Fru

"Escape From Reality" - Denis Kasatkin

Useful references:

Handy explanation of The Dark Phoenix Saga comic book storyline: Dark Phoenix Explained: The Real Story Behind the X-Men Classic - IGN

2006 review of X-Men: The Last Stand: X-Men: The Last Stand | Culture | The Guardian.

2019 review of Dark Phoenix: X-Men: Dark Phoenix review – mutant franchise fizzles out forgettably | Film | The Guardian.

After a period of self-care, m* is back into the TIYS project with this lone wolf episode. m* discusses and reflects on his time off, and podcasting prospects moving forward.

A fun nerdy fact is that m* has discovered how to do multilayering when editing episode recordings, so enjoy the music track backing the commentary!

Also a trigger warning here: Themes raised in this episode regarding mental health and more specifically the topic of PTSD. 

An end of year review featuring m* and usual suspect John as both look back on key TIYS episodes such as Slapgate and Dackgate, topical events of the year, and what may arise in the year ahead. Or, if we are indeed still to remain stuck in 2020.

m* also kicks off this episode by disclosing some lived experience regarding neurodiversity and complex mental illness, so a trigger warning as some of this discussion involves covering trauma themes.

Article of relevance to this episode:

LIV Golf: Why Greg Norman divides opinion (smh.com.au) - wherein a journo plucks up enough courage to square up and refer to Greg Norman as a confirmed dickhead.