Upstream

The Crushing Despair of Class Society Oct 12, 2026 14:06 This is a free preview of the episode "The Crushing Despair of Class Society." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber, you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a weekly show, and it will also give

Gamified Capitalism and 21st Century Fascism w/ Max Haiven Oct 6, 2026 01:40:11 In this episode we're joined by Max Haivan for a conversation on gamified capitalism and 21st century fascism. Max Haiven is Canada Research Chair in Radical Imagination at Lakehead University and author of many books, including most recently, The Player and the Played: From Gamed Capitalism to 21st-Century Fascism, which is open-access. He is the designer of the board game Billionaires & Guilloti

[TEASER] Cuba Ep. 11: Actually Existing Ecology w/ Henry Hakamäki & Salvatore Engels-Di Mauro Sep 29, 2026 24:00 This is a free preview of the episode "Cuba Ep. 11: Actually Existing Ecology w/ Henry Hakamäki & Salvatore Engels-Di Mauro." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber, you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to mak

[UNLOCKED] Communism, the Highest Stage of Ecology w/ Henry Hakamäki & Salvatore Engels-Di Mauro Sep 28, 2026 01:30:09 This is an unlocked version of our Patreon episode "Communism, the Highest Stage of Ecology w/ Henry Hakamäki & Salvatore Engels-Di Mauro." In this episode, Part 1 of a 2-part miniseries, Henry Hakamäki & Salvatore Engels-Di Mauro join us to discuss the ecology of communism as described in the book, Communism, the Highest Stage of Ecology by French scholar Guillaume Suing. Salvatore Engels-Di Ma

The Cultural Cold War: Folk Music and Communism w/ Carsie Blanton Sep 22, 2026 01:25:11 In this episode, we're joined by Carsie Blanton for a conversation on communist folk music and the role of politics in art. Carsie Blanton is a songwriter, touring musician, and organizer with Artists Against Apartheid and People's Songs—an organization of musicians dedicated to adapting, distributing, and performing songs for liberation. The conversation begins with Carsie giving us a sense of he

[TEASER] China Ep. 11: Tibet w/ Ken Hammond Sep 15, 2026 19:12 This is a free preview of the episode "China Ep. 11: Tibet w/ Ken Hammond." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber, you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a weekly show, and it will also give yo

Venezuela Ep. 7: On Ascending a High Mountain w/ Cira Pascual Marquina and Chris Gilbert Sep 8, 2026 01:53:12 In this conversation, episode 7 in our ongoing series on Venezuela, we're joined by Cira Pascual Marquina and Chris Gilbert for an on-the-ground assessment of how Venezuela is navigating the latest phase of US imperialism. Chris Gilbert is a professor at Venezuela's Bolivarian University and a writer based in Caracas. He's the author of Commune or Nothing! Venezuela's Communal Movement and its Soc

[TEASER] Communism, the Highest Stage of Ecology w/ Henry Hakamäki & Salvatore Engels-Di Mauro Sep 1, 2026 25:38 This is a free preview of the episode "Communism, the Highest Stage of Ecology w/ Henry Hakamäki & Salvatore Engels-Di Mauro." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber, you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to ma

Cuba Ep. 10: Cuba after Castro w/ Abby Martin Aug 25, 2026 01:14:29 In this episode we're joined by Abby Martin for a conversation on her film, "Cuba after Castro: The Island in the Crosshairs." Abby Martin is a journalist, activist, founder of "The Empire Files," and director of the films "Gaza Fights for Freedom," "Earth's Greatest Enemy," which was the topic of our first episode with Abby, which was actually our first live show ever, and the film we'll be discu

[TEASER] China Ep. 10: The Dialectics of Chinese Labor w/ Immanuel Ness Aug 18, 2026 28:49 This is a free preview of the episode "China Ep. 10: The Dialectics of Chinese Labor w/ Immanuel Ness" You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber, you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a weekly sho

Cuba Ep 9: Conjuring up the Red Menace w/ Charisse Burden-Stelly Aug 11, 2026 01:14:13 In this episode we're joined by Charisse Burden-Stelly for a conversation on Cuba and the long history of US red scares through the lens of the US Department of State's recent report on Cuba: "Cuba: The Capital of 21st Century Communism." Charisse Burden-Stelly is an associate professor of African American studies at Wayne State University, a member of the Black Alliance for Peace, Movement Builde

[TEASER] Inventing Reality: The Politics of News Media Jul 21, 2026 19:58 This is a free preview of the episode "Inventing Reality: The Politics of News Media" You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber, you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a weekly show, and it will al

Sudan Ep. 1: The Unconscious Revolution w/ Mohamed Khougali Jul 14, 2026 02:08:16 In this episode we're joined by Mohamed Khougali for a conversation exploring the history and politics of Sudan from the perspective of a Sudanese psychotherapist who participated in the 2018-2019 revolution. Mohamed Khougali is a socialist who was part of the Sudanese revolution of 2019. He's the author of Politically Unconscious: The Psychic Aftermath of the Sudanese Revolution, published by Isk

[TEASER] 250 Years of Bourgeois Democracy w/ August Nimtz Jul 5, 2026 15:19 This is a free preview of the episode "250 Years of Bourgeois Democracy w/ August Nimtz" You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to bi-weekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a weekly show, and it will

The Democratic Party w/ Cecilia Guerrero Jun 30, 2026 01:44:35 In this episode Cecilia Guerrero joins us to pick apart the sordid origins and class orientation of the Democratic Party. Cecilia Guerrero is chair and founding member of A Luta Sigue, an organization based in Nashville, Tennessee which incubates and trains young people and workers within advanced sectors of the working class to build and lead their own class struggle organizations. The conversati

[TEASER] Iran Ep. 5: Is the US-Iran Deal a Trap for Iran? w/ Elina Xenophontos Jun 23, 2026 35:51 This is a free preview of the episode "Iran Pt. 5: Is the US-Iran Deal a Trap for Iran? w/ Elina Xenophontos" You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber, you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a wee

Honorable Harvest: Indigenous Economics w/ Gregg Castro Jun 16, 2026 01:54:11 The hyper-individual, anti-collectivist ideology that defines and permeates Western societies has profound consequences in multiple realms, from mental health to ecological health to economic health—it's a way of living and thinking that has stained our society from the start. No one knows this more than those individuals and cultures who have, for thousands of years, practiced life in a different

[TEASER] China Ep. 9: Taiwan w/ Charles Xu and Feiyang Sun Jun 9, 2026 28:05 This is a free preview of the episode "China Ep. 9: Taiwan w/ Charles Xu and Feiyang Sun." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to bi-weekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a weekly show, and it wi

The Rise (and Fall) of the US Dollar w/ Fadhel Kaboub Jun 2, 2026 01:29:35 In this episode we're joined by Fadhel Kaboub for a conversation about the US dollar, its hegemony over the globe, and the emerging challenges to this hegemony. Fadhel Kaboub is a Tunisian-American economist, professor of economics at Denison University, president of the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity, and author of Global South Perspectives on substack. The conversation opens with a

[TEASER] Cuba Ep. 8: Lessons from the Fall of the USSR w/ Helen Yaffe May 26, 2026 17:49 This is a free preview of the episode "Cuba Ep. 8: Lessons from the Fall of the USSR w/ Helen Yaffe." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber, you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a weekly show

Cuba Ep. 7: How Cuban Socialism Works w/ Helen Yaffe May 19, 2026 01:13:49 Helen Yaffe joins us for a conversation exploring what the attempts to build socialism in Cuba look like in a practical sense—from housing to food distribution to economic management. Helen Yaffe is a professor of Latin American political economy at the University of Glasgow. She is the author of We Are Cuba! How a Revolutionary People Have Survived in a Post-Soviet World, and Che Guevara: The Eco

[TEASER] Cuba Ep. 6: The Political Thought of Fidel Castro w/ Renzo Llorente May 12, 2026 17:01 This is a free preview of the episode "Cuba Ep. 6: The Political Thought of Fidel Castro w/ Renzo Llorente." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to bi-weekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a week

Cuba Ep. 5: Under Siege w/ Manolo De Los Santos & Liz Oliva Fernández May 5, 2026 01:41:14 Manolo De Los Santos & Liz Oliva Fernández join us for a conversation exploring the current state of the island and how Cubans are responding to Trump's oil blockade. Manolo De Los Santos is a founder of the People's Forum and a researcher at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is the co-editor Viviremos: Venezuela vs. Hybrid War, Comrade of the Revolution: Selected Speeches of Fidel

[TEASER] The Long Transition Towards Socialism and the End of Capitalism w/ Torkil Lauesen Apr 28, 2026 22:23 This is a free preview of the episode "The Long Transition Towards Socialism and the End of Capitalism w/ Torkil Lauesen." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to at least one bonus episode a month (usually two or three), our entire back catalog of Patreon episodes, early access to c

A Socialist California w/ Ramsey Robinson Apr 21, 2026 01:07:51 In this episode we're joined by Ramsey Robinson for a conversation exploring the need for socialism in California (and beyond). Ramsey Robinson is a mental health social worker, organizer, and revolutionary based in San Francisco. He is running for Governor of California with the Peace and Freedom Party. The conversation begins with Ramsey discussing what compelled him to run for Governor of Calif

[UNLOCKED] Palestine Ep. 17: Capital Accumulation at Any Cost w/ Jason Hickel Apr 16, 2026 01:04:29 This is an unlocked version of the episode "Palestine Ep. 17: Capital Accumulation at Any Cost w/ Jason Hickel." You can help to support our work and access Patreon-only episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast In this episode we're joined again by Jason Hickel for a conversation on Palestine and the role that Palestinian liberation plays in the global f

[TEASER] Iran Ep. 4: Towards a Multipolar World / Matteo Capasso Apr 13, 2026 26:53 This is a free preview of the episode "Iran Ep. 4: Towards a Multipolar World / Matteo Capasso." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber ,you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a weekly show, and

Cuba Ep. 4: Counterrevolution w/ Renzo Llorente Apr 7, 2026 01:34:35 Renzo Llorente joins us for a conversation exploring the counterrevolution to Cuba's 1959 revolution and the various forms it took. Renzo Llorente is associate professor of philosophy at Saint Louis University-Madrid and the author of the books The Political Theory of Che Guevara and The Political Thought of Fidel Castro. The conversation begins with a look at the current assault on Cuba from the

[TEASER] Palestine Ep. 17: Capital Accumulation at Any Cost w/ Jason Hickel Mar 31, 2026 17:10 In this episode, we're joined again by Jason Hickel for a conversation on Palestine and the role that Palestinian liberation plays in the global fight against imperialism and capitalism. The conversation opens with a discussion on why Palestinian liberation is a threat to capitalism globally—we unpack the role that Palestine plays geopolitically in West Asia and the role that West Asia plays in gl

Cuba Ep. 3: Che Guevara and the Building of Socialism w/ Helen Yaffe Mar 24, 2026 01:32:22 Helen Yaffe joins us for a conversation exploring Cuba's transition to socialism after the revolution through Che Guevara's contributions. Helen Yaffe is a professor of Latin American political economy at the University of Glasgow. She is the author of We Are Cuba! How a Revolutionary People Have Survived in a Post-Soviet World, and Che Guevara: The Economics of Revolution. She is also the cohost

[UNLOCKED] Lebanon Ep. 1: Resisting Occupation w/ Hussein Assaf Mar 17, 2026 01:03:46 Although the episodes in our series build on each other in certain ways, all of our series are designed so that each episode can be listened to as a standalone. In Episode 1 of our new series on Lebanon, Hussein Assaf joins us to discuss the ongoing assault on Lebanon by Israel and the United States. Hussein Assaf is a journalist with Vocal Politics based out of Beirut. Our conversation begins

Iran Ep. 3: The Empire vs. Iran w/ Bikrum Gill Mar 10, 2026 01:41:17 Although the episodes in our series build on each other in certain ways, all of our series are designed so that each episode can be listened to as a standalone. In this episode, part 3 of our ongoing series on Iran, we're joined again by Bikrum Gill for a conversation exploring sovereignty and imperialism in Iran. Our conversation opens with an unpacking of the intersections and distinctions of im

[UNLOCKED] Atlantic Slavery and the Plantation System w/ David McNally Mar 3, 2026 01:38:35 This is an unlocked version of the Patreon episode "Atlantic Slavery and the Plantation System w/ David McNally." You can support us through Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a weekly show, and it will also give you access to our entire back catalog of Patreon episodes along with stickers and bumper stickers at certain sub

Cuba Ep. 2: ¡Viva la Revolución! w/ Manolo De Los Santos Feb 24, 2026 01:38:46 Manolo De Los Santos joins us for a conversation on the Cuban Revolution. Manolo De Los Santos is a founder of the People's Forum and a researcher at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is the coeditor Viviremos: Venezuela vs. Hybrid War, Comrade of the Revolution: Selected Speeches of Fidel Castro, and Our Own Path to Socialism: Selected Speeches of Hugo Chávez. The conversation pic

[TEASER] The Political Economy of Love in Capitalism w/ Kristen Ghodsee Feb 17, 2026 15:35 This is an preview of the Patreon episode "The Political Economy of Love in Capitalism w/ Kristen Ghodsee." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to at least one bonus episode a month (usually two or three), our entire back catalog of Patreon episodes, early access to certain episodes

The Intellectual World War w/ Gabriel Rockhill Feb 13, 2026 01:41:40 In this episode we're joined by Gabriel Rockhill to discuss his new book, Who Paid the Pipers of Western Marxism, which takes a fascinating dive into the world of anticommunist Marxism and the role that the CIA and other nefarious imperialist forces play in dividing and neutralizing the left. Gabriel Rockhill is a philosopher, cultural critic, and activist teaching Philosophy and Global Interdisci

[TEASER] Iran Ep. 2: The Impacts of Economic Strangulation w/ Elina Xenophontos Feb 6, 2026 34:25 This is a free preview of the episode "Iran Ep. 2: The Impacts of Economic Strangulation w/ Elina Xenophontos." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to bi-weekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a w

[TEASER] Venezuela Ep. 6: The Empire Strikes w/ José Luis Granados Ceja and Andreína Chávez Feb 3, 2026 27:25 This is an unlocked version of the Patreon episode "Venezuela Ep. 6: The Empire Strikes w/ José Luis Granados Ceja Andreína Chávez." You can listen to our entire 5-part series on Venezuela by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber, you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for P

Cuba Ep. 1: Before the Revolution w/ Manolo De Los Santos Jan 29, 2026 01:29:52 Manolo De Los Santos joins us to explore Cuba before the Cuban revolution. Manolo De Los Santos is a founder of the People's Forum and a researcher at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is the co-editor Viviremos: Venezuela vs. Hybrid War, Comrade of the Revolution: Selected Speeches of Fidel Castro, and Our Own Path to Socialism: Selected Speeches of Hugo Chávez. The conversation o

[UNLOCKED] How Fascism Works (a Michael Parenti Reading) Jan 24, 2026 01:33:31 This is an unlocked version of the Patreon episode "How Fascism Works." RIP Michael Parenti, (September 30, 1933 – January 24, 2026) In this episode of our reading series, Robbie reads and provides real-time analysis of the opening chapter of the classic book Blackshirts & Reds: Rational Fascism & the Overthrow of Communism by Michael Parenti. The text covers the topics of plutocracy and autocracy

[TEASER] Alliance of Sahel States Ep. 4: The Life, Politics and Legacies of Thomas Sankara w/ Amber Murrey Jan 21, 2026 22:24 This is a free preview of the episode "Alliance of Sahel States Ep. 4: The Life, Politics and Legacies of Thomas Sankara w/ Amber Murrey." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a grea

US Labor & Imperialism Pt. 2: Zionism w/ Jeff Schuhrke (Palestine Ep. 16) Jan 13, 2026 02:03:46 In this episode, part 2 of our 2-part miniseries on US labor and imperialism, Jeff Schuhrke joins us to take a deep dive into his new book, No Neutrals There, exploring US labor's support of Zionism. Jeff Schuhrke is a labor historian, journalist, union activist, and assistant professor at the Harry Van Arsdale Jr School of Labor Studies, SUNY Empire State University. He's the author of Blue-Colla

[UNLOCKED] Immigration, ICE, and Working Class Rebellion w/ Cecilia Guerrero Jan 8, 2026 01:41:22 Note: We have unlocked this Patreon episode which originally aired on Jun 23, 2025 It's easy to get lost in the narratives that are fed to us by the very same institutions that oppress us. Whether liberal institutions or far right ones, there's always something crucial missing—some component of analysis that's left unaddressed, some root cause that remains misidentified or distorted. And the reaso

[BONUS] The Turn of the Year (or A Solstice Celebration) w/ Manda Scott and Nathalie Nahai Dec 30, 2025 01:14:21 Happy Holidays! In this annual tradition, Della is joined by two fellow podcast hosts to reflect on insights and questions from the past year and share visions for the year ahead. They discuss how to not get stuck in embitterment, concerns and questions about AI, and where they are currently finding hope in these dark times. Manda Scott is a novelist, smallholder, and host of the Accidental Gods

[TEASER] Reconnecting to the Land and to Place Dec 23, 2025 24:45 This is a free preview of the episode "Reconnecting to the Land and to Place." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to at least one bonus episode a month (usually two or three), our entire back catalog of Patreon episodes, early access to certain episodes, and other benefits like sti

US Labor & Imperialism Pt. 1: the War Against Communism w/ Jeff Schuhrke Dec 16, 2025 01:52:52 In this episode, part 1 of a 2-part miniseries on US labor and imperialism, Jeff Schuhrke joins us for a conversation on how US labor aided and at times even led the US's global fight against communism throughout much of the 20th century. Jeff Schuhrke is a labor historian, journalist, union activist, and assistant professor at the Harry Van Arsdale Jr School of Labor Studies, SUNY Empire State Un

[TEASER] Mexico Ep. 2: Morena and The Fourth Transformation w/ Stephanie Weatherbee Brito Dec 9, 2025 23:53 This is a free preview of the episode "Mexico Ep. 2: Morena and The Fourth Transformation w/ Stephanie Weatherbee Brito." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to bi-weekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make U

A World out of Balance: Introducing Doughnut 3.0 w/ Andrew Fanning Dec 2, 2025 01:23:02 Patreon: www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast Mazlo: https://donate.mazloweb.com/donate/xsKGfZHZFXvoNMzVKaSvH In this episode we're joined by Andrew Fanning for a conversation about doughnuts…no, not that kind of doughnut. We're talking about Kate Raworth's famous Doughnut from Doughnut Economics. Andrew Fanning is an ecological economist exploring how to move our interconnected societies towards the

[TEASER] Mexico Ep. 1: A Socialist Introduction w/ Cecilia Guerrero Nov 25, 2025 18:26 This is a free preview of the episode "Mexico Pt. 1: A Socialist Introduction w/ Cecilia Guerrero." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber, you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a weekly show,

From the Frontlines: Tenant Organizing w/ Josh Poe and Tara Raghuveer Nov 18, 2025 01:05:04 In this episode, part of our ongoing From the Frontlines series, Tara Raghuveer and Josh Poe join us for a conversation about tenant organizing. Tara Raghuveer is a tenant organizer with KC Tenants based in Kansas City, Missouri and with the Tenant Union Federation. Josh Poe is the organizing director with the Kentucky Tenant Union, formerly known as the Louisville Tenant Union and organizes with

[TEASER] Imperialism in the Twenty-First Century w/ John Smith Nov 11, 2025 25:07 This is a free preview of the episode "Imperialism in the Twenty-First Century w/ John Smith." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to at least one bonus episode a month (usually two or three), our entire back catalog of Patreon episodes, early access to certain episodes, and other b

China Ep. 8: Mao Zedong and Maoism with Yueran Zhang Nov 4, 2025 01:37:11 Yueren Zhang joins us to discuss Mao Zedong and the political philosophy of Maoism. Yueran Zhang is Assistant Professor in the department of sociology at the University of Chicago. He specializes in the comparative studies of capitalism, socialism, and transitions in between, with a special emphasis on political economy and the dynamics of development in the Global South. The conversation opens b

[TEASER] Venezuela Ep. 4: The Empire vs. Venezuela w/ Jesus Rodriguez-Espinoza and Saheli Chowdhury Oct 28, 2025 32:12 This is a free preview of the episode "Venezuela Ep. 4: The Empire vs. Venezuela w/ Jesus Rodriguez-Espinoza and Saheli Chowdhury." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber, you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way

Slow Down or Die w/ Timothée Parrique Oct 21, 2025 01:27:34 In this episode, Timothée Parrique joins us for a discussion on degrowth. We begin the conversation with explaining the concept of degrowth, looking at its history, and really unpacking what it is and what it isn't. We talk about degrowth's two-fold agenda to both downscale production and consumption for environmental reasons, as well as its potential for removing the profit-motive as a central co

[TEASER] Venezuela Ep. 3: Sanctions as Economic Warfare w/ Cira Pascual Marquina Oct 11, 2025 28:46 This is a free preview of the episode "Venezuela Ep. 3: Sanctions as Economic Warfare w/ Cira Pascual Marquina." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a w

Migration as Economic Imperialism w/ Immanuel Ness Oct 7, 2025 01:32:47 A quick but important announcement: if you're a recurring donor through Flipcause (not Patreon, but Flipcause) please check your spam folder for an email from upstreampodcast.org because we've sent out some important emails regarding your donation and the Flipcause platform. Check your spam for the subject line "Action required: your Upstream donation." And just a reminder that this is only for

[TEASER] Venezuela Ep. 2: Socialist Communes and Anti-Imperialism w/ Chris Gilbert Sep 30, 2025 21:13 This is a free preview of the episode "Venezuela Ep. 2: Socialist Communes and Anti-Imperialism w/ Chris Gilbert." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a

Post Capitalist Parenting Pt. 5: Raising Children in the Midst of Global Crisis w/ Jo delAmor Sep 23, 2025 01:16:59 In this episode, Part 5 of our ongoing Post Capitalist Parenting series, Jo delAmor joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about raising children in the midst of a global crisis. We open our discussion with a nod to the late scholar and activist Joanna Macy and the Work That Reconnects which she developed and which has shaped and influenced both Jo and Della's work. We then talk about Jo's frami

[TEASER] Alliance of Sahel States Ep. 3: Hyperimperialism and the Fight for Sovereignty w/ Mikaela Nhondo Erskog Sep 16, 2025 31:53 This is a free preview of the episode "Alliance of Sahel States Ep. 3: Hyperimperialism w/ Mikaela Nhondo Erskog." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to bi-weekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream

Post Capitalist Parenting Pt. 4: Midwifery and Birthing w/ Robina Khalid Sep 9, 2025 01:27:48 In this episode, Part 4 of our ongoing Post Capitalist Parenting series, Robina Khalid joins us to talk about the process of birthing from the perspective of a midwife. Robina is a mother of four, a writer, former academic, and activist. In this conversation, Robina shares with us the fascinating history of the field of obstetrics and its white supremacist, colonialist, and capitalist roots. We ex

[TEASER] Venezuela Ep. 1: A Socialist Introduction w/ Vijay Prashad Sep 2, 2025 15:02 This is a free preview of the episode "Venezuela Ep. 1: A Socialist Introduction w/ Vijay Prashad." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to bi-weekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a weekly show,

Palestine Ep. 15: The Gaza Freedom Flotilla w/ Chris Smalls & Huwaida Arraf Aug 26, 2025 01:50:32 In this episode we've invited on two guests for a wide-ranging conversation around the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and the movement it's part of: Chris Smalls and Huwaida Arraf. Chris Smalls is a labor organizer, founder and former President of the Amazon Labor Union, and was a member of the most recent Freedom Flotilla voyage to Gaza. In this conversation, Chris shares about his experience on the Handa

[TEASER] China Ep. 7: A Socialist Response to the COVID Pandemic w/ Creighton Ward, Kevin Li, and Alessandro Zancan Aug 19, 2025 22:19 This is a free preview of the episode "China Ep. 7: A Socialist Response to the COVID Pandemic w/ Creighton Ward, Alessandro Zancan, and Kevin Li." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to bi-weekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon

Marx's Capital Vol. 2 w/ Richard Wolff and Shahram Azhar Jul 29, 2025 01:27:47 In our inaugural episode on Marx's Capital, we took a deep dive into Capital Vol. 1, the first of three volumes on political economy written by Karl Marx in the late 19th century. Capital Vol. 1, though, is just the beginning—and unfortunately most people stop there. But Vol. 1 really just looks at one aspect of capitalism—how surplus value is produced. It doesn't dive into the entire circulation

[TEASER] Third Worldism and the Bandung Spirit w/ Pranay Somayajula Jul 22, 2025 22:39 This is a free preview of the episode "Third Worldism and the Bandung Spirit w/ Pranay Somayajula" You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to at least one bonus episode a month (usually two or three), our entire back catalog of Patreon episodes, early access to certain episodes, and oth

NATO Pt. 2: The Long War on the Third World w/ Pawel Wargan Jul 15, 2025 01:19:35 It's not hyperbole to suggest that the imperialist wars waged upon the Global South by the United States and the imperialist bloc that it leads are akin to a protracted genocide. The sheer amount of death, carnage, destruction, immiseration, crushed dreams, is almost unfathomable. But it's real. And it's the status quo for what we love to refer fondly to as "Western Civilization." And there's no o

[TEASER] Alliance of Sahel States Ep. 2: A View from Within w/ Inem Richardson Jul 8, 2025 23:05 This is a free preview of the episode "Alliance of Sahel States Ep. 2: A View from Within w/ Inem Richardson." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a wee

NATO Pt. 1: An Anti-Imperialist Introduction w/ Elina Xenophontos Jul 1, 2025 01:33:11 NATO—The North Atlantic Treaty Organization—far from being just a defensive alliance between the United States and Europe, is actually the spear tip of imperialism's military arm. It's the force used to discipline any global actor who dares to defy US hegemony and dominance on the world stage. From Greece to Libya to Ukraine—NATO is where we must look to understand how destabilization occurs and h

[TEASER] Immigration, ICE, and Working Class Rebellion w/ Cecilia Guerrero Jun 24, 2025 26:00 This is a free preview of the episode "Immigration, ICE, and Working Class Rebellion w/ Cecilia Guerrero." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to at least one bonus episode a month (usually two or three), our entire back catalog of Patreon episodes, early access to certain episodes,

Iran Ep. 1: A Socialist Introduction w/ Séamus Malekafzali [BONUS] Jun 22, 2025 01:45:22 Although the episodes in our series build on each other in certain ways, all of our series are designed so that each episode can be listened to as a standalone. As seems to be the case with most of the countries that the United States goes to war with—much of the population here doesn't know very much about those countries. And what they do know is usually Western propaganda, misinformation, or ou

Post Capitalist Parenting Pt. 3: A Dialectical Perspective w/ Breht O'Shea Jun 17, 2025 02:12:00 One of the most radical things you can do is live your life in direct opposition to the forces that control our society. Not just fighting for policies or organizing your community, although those are certainly important parts of it, but also living with values that oppose the values of our dominant society. And even more importantly, raising the next generation to embody those values—not in a coe

[TEASER] China Ep. 6: The Long Transition Towards Socialism w/ Gabriel Rockhill Jun 10, 2025 20:57 This is a free preview of the episode "China Ep. 6: The Long Transition Towards Socialism w/ Gabriel Rockhill." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to biweekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a we

[UNLOCKED] Alliance of Sahel States Ep. 1: Burkina Faso – An Anti-imperialist Introduction w/ Prudence Iticka Jun 5, 2025 01:19:29 Imperialism is the primary contradiction facing the globe—and the split of the world into two poles, the imperialists and the anti-imperialists, is going to continue to shape our revolutionary struggles moving forward. This anti-imperialist struggle is occurring all over the Global South, and perhaps nowhere quite as prominently as in Africa's Sahel region, where the countries of Burkina Faso, Mal

How to Fall in Love with the Future w/ Rob Hopkins Jun 3, 2025 01:18:46 If you look around at the state of the world—and the despair that comes with the reality of climate change, fascism spreading its tentacles around the world, the ethnic cleansing of Gaza—it's very difficult to feel hope. It begins to feel like the forces of destruction and death have colonized our futures, limiting our dreams and stifling our imaginations. It's in these times specifically that it

[TEASER] Alliance of Sahel States Ep. 1: Burkina Faso – An Anti-imperialist Introduction w/ Prudence Iticka May 27, 2025 18:20 This is a free preview of the episode "Alliance of Sahel States Pt. 1: Burkina Faso – An Anti-imperialist Introduction w/ Prudence Iticka." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to bi-weekly bonus episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a gr

Post Capitalist Parenting Pt. 2: Reimagining the Family w/ Kristen Ghodsee May 20, 2025 01:32:26 There is nothing natural about the way we arrange families under capitalism—in fact, there are many who would argue that there is something quite unnatural about narrowing the experience of romance and child-rearing into the rigid form of the nuclear family. That there are much better ways of arranging these things might come as a surprise to some—but for those who have researched it, it's no shoc

[TEASER] The Imperial Boomerang w/ Julian Go May 13, 2025 20:37 This is a free preview of the episode "The Imperial Boomerang w/ Julian Go." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you will have access to bi-weekly episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a weekly show, and it will also give you

From the Frontlines: Organizing Against Amazon w/ Chris Smalls and Mars Verrone May 6, 2025 01:08:51 Chris Smalls had no idea the direction his life would take when he was discharged in 2020 for organizing a walk out in protest against Amazon's safety protocols during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. He had no idea he was about to embark on one of the most challenging David and Goliath unionization efforts of our century. In this episode, we speak with Chris Smalls, the founder and a f

[TEASER] China Ep. 5: Towards an Ecological Civilization w/ Tings Chak Apr 29, 2025 18:35 This is a free preview of the episode "China Ep. 5: A Socialist Approach to Ecological Development w/ Tings Chak". You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you will have access to bi-weekly episodes ranging from conversations to readings and more. Signing up for Patreon is a great way to make Upstream a w

A History of the CIA, Coups, and Assassinations w/ Vijay Prashad Apr 22, 2025 01:13:23 "What is the price of an assassin's bullet? Some dollars here and there. The cost of the bullet. The cost of a taxi ride, a hotel, an airplane, the money paid to hire the assassin, his silence purchased through a payment into a Swiss bank, the cost to him psychologically for having taken the life of one, two, three, or four. But the biggest price is not paid by the intelligence services. The bigg

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