Thorn in Your Side

After something of a break, strap in for an episode that’s half intellectual deep-dive, half late-night hallucination. m* is joined by Tim for a loose, meandering chat recorded on the Gold Coast—where exploitation, back pain, and existential absurdity are just part of the landscape.

We bounce from Trump’s latest tariff fever dream to algorithmic policy chaos, from attempted AI patent law analysis to commentary on the collapse of global order. Along the way, expect smashcuts of pop culture riffs and the occasional meta-interruption from the AI m* dabbles with to produce this episode.

This is podcasting as collage: part analysis, part meme, part gonzo mixtape—produced by a mind half-broken by the news cycle. If you’re after polished hot takes, look elsewhere. If you want a real, slightly cooked conversation about how it all feels at the end of the world, this is your episode.

Hopefully more to come as m* fully embraces the 2020s dystopian vibe.

m* picks the brain of old friend, comrade and podcasting peer, one Dave Eden of the Living the Dream podcast. We look at the big oz political issues of the day - the CFMEU consternation, the national housing crunch, anti-politics and the rise of the Australian Greens, and prevailing political economic issues orbiting around each. Rounded off with the odd splash of communist sentiment here and there.

We conclude our chat nicely with discussing the phenomenon that is outer suburban tabletop RPG gaming - community building one dice roll at a time!

Episode links:

Living the Dream podcasting link - Living The Dream | Great Australian Pods Podcast Directory

'Brisbane Free University' the activist free education group that has a bin chicken as a logo - Brisbane Free University | Re-imagine education.

SMH CFMEU editorial - The Herald’s View: Enough. It’s time to straighten up our construction sites with a strong regulator (smh.com.au)

Link to smh expose on the CFMEU – CFMEU investigation uncovers infiltrations by bikies and organised criminals, intimidation and allegations of corruption. (smh.com.au)

State of the Housing System 2024 policy document - State of the Housing System 2024 (nhsac.gov.au)

Dave’s interview with C. Derick Varn – Varn Vlog: Dave Eden on Political Economy in Australia (youtube.com)

'Left Flank' blog created and coordinated by Tad Tietze - Left Flank - (left-flank.org).

Frank Hardy's seminal book – Power without glory | Australia Explained (australia-explained.com.au)

"Frameworks of Flesh" book Dave refers to, as written by Humphrey McQueen, book review - Review: [Untitled] on JSTOR

'Class and Capital in Australia' research group that Dave is part of - Class and Capital in Australia (substack.com)

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.