Well Reds: A Left Book Podcast by Well Reds

06.19.2021

Prairie Maritime Analogies (Full of Chit-Chat ep22 w/ NDP MP Niki Ashton)

On Full of Chit-Chat ep22, long-time pal Niki Ashton (MP for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski) unpacks Canada's urgent tasks at home & beyond, including reckoning with the legacy of Genocide, the welcome renaissance of the Left and why every socialist boat actually...

06.10.2021

Anxiety Boys Get Noticed (Full of Chit-Chat ep21 w/ Dave Harris)

On a new Full of Chit-Chat comedian (and Charlie's former 'Fight or Fight Crew' mental health podcast co-host) Dave Harris comes by to talk about brain chemistry, beard maintenance and being haunted by the seminal 1990 classic novelty song 'Do...

05.30.2021

The Cash for Birthdays Commission (Full of Chit-Chat ep20 w/ BC Attorney General + NDP MLA David Eby)

On an auspicious episode 20 host Charlie Demers welcomes BC’s Attorney General & Minister for Housing for a conversation on political culture, pandemic, & complicated inheritances. Plus: a special surprise appearance by Charlie's daughter, adorably interrupting a conversation about the...

05.23.2021

The Horizons of His Knowing (Full of Chit-Chat ep19 w/ Hawksley Workman)

On episode 19 Charlie welcomes thinking person’s rock star Hawksley Workman for a conversation on uncoolness, the bespoke 1980s & what the internet is doing to us one click at a time.For the latest on Hawksley's work see https://hawksleyworkman.com/Get early...

05.16.2021

Developing the Anti-Colonial Hiking Mindset (Full of Chit-Chat ep18 w/ Stephen Hui)

On a new Full of Chit-Chat host Charlie Demers welcomes guest, East Vancouver neighbour and very old pal Stephen Hui for a conversation about the joys & political complications of the great outdoors and his best-selling new book 'Destination Hikes:In...

05.03.2021

Crime, Nostalgia and Vancouver Noir (Full of Chit-Chat ep17 w/ Sam Wiebe)

On a new Full of Chit-Chat host Charlie Demers welcomes master Vancouver crime novelist Sam Wiebe to talk space & time, but not in a physics way. Also Rambo.Find out more about Wiebe's award-winning crime fiction at http://samwiebe.com/Get early access...

04.27.2021

From Shakespeare to Saskatchewan (Full of Chit-Chat ep16 w/ Lorne Cardinal)

On a new Full of Chit-Chat star of stage and screen Lorne Cardinal joins host Charlie Demers to discuss the international cultural phenomenon of Corner Gas & the enduring legacy of Billy Dee Williams.For more about Lorne's life and career...

04.19.2021

Writers and the Worldbuilding Impulse (Full of Chit-Chat ep15 w/ Tariq Hussain)

On Full of Chit-Chat episode 15 host Charlie Demers talks Turkey travel terror & looking for love in all the write places with his multitalented Juno-nominated pal, writer and musician Tariq Hussain. Find more of Tariq's music and writing...

04.13.2021

A Return to Simple Pleasures (Full of Chit-Chat ep14 w/ Jill Barber)

In the midst of a mostly-bad-news week, Charlie sits down with old pal and Juno-winning singer-songwriter (and superstar) Jill Barber to talk about career trajectory, how technology is changing the nature of performance in music and comedy & the enduring...

04.07.2021

Legacy of a Longtime Left-wing Standard-bearer (Full of Chit-Chat ep13 w/ Svend Robinson)

As you'll hear in the first moments of this conversation, Charlie grew up in a household where Svend Robinson was revered as the Burnaby Member of Parliament who got Mom’s disability payments from a recalcitrant federal bureaucracy, and over the...

04.01.2021

Hurry, Soft: Curlers and Cowards in So-called Canada (Full of Chit-Chat ep12 w/ John Cullen)

On ep12 local CB (Curling Boy) John Cullen saves the day from an audio perspective, catches Charlie up on Canada’s third-favourite sport & has a special message about the youth (spoiler: they are our future).Find our more about John's work...

03.30.2021

Family, Geography and Historical Amnesia in British Columbia (Full of Chit-Chat ep11 w/ Kai Nagata)

On a new episode two pals with 9 generations in Vancouver between them sit down for a conversation about geography, memory and family as Kai Nagata joins host Charlie Demers to talk about what it means to have deep roots...

03.25.2021

Days of Rest and (Stevie) Wonder (Full of Chit-Chat ep10 w/ Dawn Pemberton)

On episode 10 Charlie sits down with the New Queen of Canadian Soul Dawn Pemberton for a conversation about music, almonds and the importance of rest in a challenging year. Plus: the show's very first live musical performance!Hear more...

03.23.2021

Socialists Who Love People (Full of Chit-Chat ep9 w/ Leigh Phillips)

On episode 9 of Full of Chit-Chat it’s the man with the plan(ned economy) as host Charlie Demers welcomes author & science journalist Leigh Phillips for a conversation on vaccine rollout nightmares, the beauty of the scientific method & why...

03.18.2021

The Dark Comedy of Trauma (Full of Chit-Chat ep8 w/ Erica Sigurdson)

On episode 8 of Full of Chit-Chat, Charlie welcomes his fave from CBC's The Debaters & literally anything to do with stand-up comedy in Canada, the one and only Erica Sigurdson to talk about navigating laughter, career and trauma in...

03.16.2021

The Future of the Labour Movement (Full of Chit-Chat ep7 w/ Paul Finch)

On episode 7 Charlie welcomes good pal Paul Finch, a leader in one of British Columbia's biggest unions, to talk about money laundering & organized crime, the labour history of the West Coast & the vaccine queue-jumping multimillionaire former gaming...

03.11.2021

One Man Intervention (Full of Chit-Chat ep6 w/ Graham Clark)

On episode 6 Charlie welcomes the man, the myth, the legend — Stop Podcasting Yourself co-host and Canadian Comedy Award-winner Graham Clark, the very first person to put Charlie onstage! In this conversation the pair talk comedy, community & the...

03.09.2021

Left Economics Ronin (Full of Chit-Chat ep5 w/ Seth Klein)

On a new episode author & economist Seth Klein joins host Charlie Demers for a conversation about what WWII & COVID can teach us about fighting climate change, his grandfather’s relationship to trade unionism & Donald Duck & which surprise...

03.04.2021

Stand-up Comedy in a Pandemic (Full of Chit-Chat ep4 w/ Andrea Jin)

On a new episode Zoomer comedienne Andrea Jin joins Charlie to talk about growing up with grandmothers, picking a generation to be part of & whether eating sparkles can kill you. Andrea's new comedy album Grandma’s Girl is out...

03.02.2021

Full of Chit-Chat After Dark (ep3 w/ Khelsilem)

On a new episode host Charlie Demers welcomes Squamish nation councillor, Indigenous language revitalization advocate/activist/educator & Vancity board member Khelsilem for a conversation that's an hour-long antidote to despair, without ever having to stick your head in the sand.Find out...

02.25.2021

Going Full Parti Quebecois (Full of Chit-Chat ep2 w/ comedian Ivan Decker)

On episode 2 of the nation's newest and nicest interview show host Charlie Demers talks with LA-based comedian Ivan Decker (one of Canada’s very funniest people) about fish-gutting, learning French, and the painful present & bright future of post-vaccine comedy.Find...

02.23.2021

(NEW SHOW: Full of Chit-Chat ep1) A Tension Between Darkness and Hope w/ Christine Boyle

In the inaugural episode of new weekly interview show 'Full of Chit-Chat' host Charlie Demers talks to Vancouver city councillor Christine Boyle about holidays in a multi-faith household, the literal and metaphorical crap of municipal politics, & how she held...

12.22.2018

Ep21 The Well Reds Holiday Special: End of Year Reflections

On the December episode of the Well Reds podcast, it's a group effort as host Charlie Demers welcomes a galaxy of international stars to help him say "until next time"! As we prepare to step away from the mic for...

11.19.2018

Ep20 'A New Hope for Mexico' w/ journalist Dawn Paley

On the November episode of the Well Reds podcast, host Charlie Demers welcomes journalist and academic Dawn Paley (author of 'Drug War Capitalism' from AK Press) for a wide-ranging conversation on Mexican President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador's 'A New...

10.31.2018

Well Reds: October Apologia

On a spooky October mini episode of the Well Reds podcast, hair-raising host Charlie 'Drag Me To Hell' Demers is very sorry for the delay. Look for Charlie's chilling conversation with returning guest 'Sinister' Samir Gandesha (Director at Simon...

09.30.2018

Ep19 'The Chapo Guide to Revolution' w/ writer Vyas Saran

On the September episode of the Well Reds podcast, host Charlie Demers welcomes writer and policy researcher Vyas Saran (Maclean's, Vancouver Sun, policynote.ca) for a conversation on 'The Chapo Guide to Revolution: a Manifesto Against Logic, Facts and Reason' published...

08.31.2018

Ep18: Eva Dolan's 'This is How it Ends' w/ noir author Sam Wiebe

On the August episode of the Well Reds podcast, host Charlie Demers welcomes returning guest and noir writer Sam Wiebe (author of 'Cut You Down', 'Invisible Dead') for a conversation on Eva Dolan's tale of community activism, mystery and possible...

07.30.2018

Ep17: Asad Haider's 'Mistaken Identity: Race and Class in the Age of Trump' w/ writer Am Johal

On the July episode of the Well Reds podcast, host Charlie Demers is joined by Am Johal, Director of Simon Fraser University's Vancity Office of Community Engagement and co-author of 'Sweetness of Life: A Tar Sands Tale' (w/ Matt Hearn...

06.30.2018

Ep16: 'Hope Lies in the Proles: George Orwell and the Left' w/ journalist Leigh Phillips

On this not-Canada-Day-themed episode of the Well Reds podcast, host Charlie Demers is joined by journalist Leigh Phillips (bylines in Jacobin, The Guardian/author of 'Austerity Ecology: a Left Defense of Growth') for a smooth, sultry and wide-ranging conversation on John...

05.29.2018

Ep15: 'Prisoner of Love' w/ BC Federation of Teachers' Shanee Prasad

Happy summer, listeners!Teacher's Christmas is coming as Shanee Prasad of the British Columbia Federation of Teachers member representing workers of colour in NC Federation of Labour Executive Council joins host Charlie Demers for a conversation on Jean Genet's Black Panther...

04.30.2018

Ep14: 'Property Values', Chapter 1 feat. Charlie Demers

Join host Charlie Demers for a special May Day episode as he celebrates the podcast's first birthday with a live reading from his new novel 'Property Values' (Arsenal Press). Linking drug gang violence on Vancouver's Lower Mainland with the...

03.28.2018

Ep13: 'Communism for Kids' w/ SFU Inst. of the Humanities Director Samir Gandesha

Children of the world have nothing to lose but their chains in the March episode of Well Reds!Join Simon Fraser University Institute of the Humanities Director Samir Gandesha and Juno-award-nominated host Charlie Demers for a gritty and granular conversation...

02.27.2018

Ep12 Live Show: Sam Wiebe on Vancouver Noir (Galiano Island Books Literary Festival)

On a special live episode, host Charlie Demers is joined by award-winning mystery writer Sam Wiebe (Last of the Independents, Invisible Dead) for a conversation on regret, revenge, real estate and 'Vancouver Noir' at the Galiano Island Books Literary Festival....

02.11.2018

Well Reds Sells Out: The Cultch presents 'Broken Tailbone'

On this special bonus episode of Well Reds, host Charlie Demers speaks with celebrated writer and performer Carmen Aguirre on intimacy, politics, culture, salsa, Marxism and the hidden dance halls of Canada. This episode features strong themes and language.Carmen's...

02.04.2018

Well Reds Sells Out: The Cultch presents 'No Foreigners'

On this special bonus episode of Well Reds, host Charlie Demers speaks with Hong Kong Exile's Milton Lim, fu-GEN Theatre's David Yee and Theatre Conspiracy's Tim Carlson on loss, resilience and the Chinese diaspora. Their new multidisciplinary show 'No Foreigners'...

01.31.2018

Ep11: David Chariandy's 'Brother' feat. Charlie Demers in Conversation w/ Charlie Demers

On episode 11 of Well Reds it's a one man TOUR-DE-FORCE as host Charlie Demers walks a solo tightrope of COMEDY and PATHOS! In this MASTERCLASS on podcasting without a net, join Charlie for a DEEP DIVE DISCOURSE on David...

12.18.2017

Ep10: Red Christmas w/ Rev. Christine Boyle on Wallace Shawn's 'Night Thoughts'

On this special extra-length yuletide episode, United Church Canada minister Rev. Christine Boyle joins host Charlie Demers for a conversation on playwright Wallace Shawn's 2017 collection of essays 'Night Thoughts'. Also: Site C and the BC NDP. Kids,...

11.28.2017

Ep9: Tariq Ali's 'Fear of Mirrors' w/ SFU Director of the Center for Global Political Economy Geoff Mann

On this episode, host Charlie Demers is joined by Geoff Mann, author of 'In The Long Run We Are All Dead' and Director of the Center for Global Political Economy at Simon Fraser University, to discuss the story of an...

10.30.2017

Ep8: China Miéville's 'October: The Story of the Russian Revolution'

On this episode, host Charlie Demers is joined by guest Roxanne Panchasi, Associate Professor of History at Simon Fraser University, for a discussion on China Miéville's acclaimed 'October: The Story of the Russian Revolution'.Editings and production: André Goulet. Extro Music:...

08.31.2017

Ep7: From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation

Dr. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor writes on Black politics, social movements, and racial inequality in the United States. Earlier this year, she was targeted by online threats and abuse after Fox News and other outlets waged a campaign in response to a...

07.26.2017

Ep6: Canada 150 + Ryan McMahon = Podcasting 101 for Charlie and Derrick

It’s our long-awaited July double episode! Comedian, writer, and podcast producer extraordinaire Ryan McMahon joins Derrick and Charlie to discuss Tom King’s “The Inconvenient Indian” and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas’ “Red: A Haida Manga.” Planned as a wide-ranging and fun discussion...

06.28.2017

Ep5 - South of Eden

In this episode Charlie and Derrick tackle their first work of fiction, discussing the hilarious and haunting "Son of a Trickster" by Eden Robinson. Editing by André Goulet, who recently won the NCCRA Best in Podcasting award for his work...

06.12.2017

Ep4 - Cleveland Rocks

In this episode, Derrick and Charlie discuss Harvey Pekar's 'Not The Israel My Parents Promised Me.'Editing and production: André Goulet.Extro Music: "Joe Hill," by Paul Robeson.Big thanks to our official bookseller: Galiano Island Books https://galianoislandbooks.com/

05.29.2017

Ep3 - Mad About You

Episode 3 of Well Reds features Charlie and Derrick discussing Pankaj Mishra’s Age of Anger -- a sprawling, ambitious, and challenging work of political analysis and intellectual history. Editing and production: André Goulet.Extro Music: "Joe Hill," by Paul Robeson.Big thanks...

05.15.2017

Ep2 - Every Rosa Has Its Thorns: Red Rosa, A Graphic Biography of Rosa Luxemburg

Rosa Luxemburg was one of the outstanding and heroic figures of the international socialist movement. In this episode, Charlie and Derrick discuss the depiction of her life in the magnificent graphic biography by Kate Evans. Editing and production: André Goulet.Extro...

05.01.2017

Ep1 - Home on Deranged

Readers of the world, unite! The inaugural Well Reds left book podcast episode features a discussion of Amitav Ghosh's magisterial and challenging book, The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable (http://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/G/bo22265507.html). Get to know your hosts Charlie and Derrick...

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