
Working Class History
History isn't made by kings and politicians, it's made by all of us. This podcast is about how we, together, have fought for a better world.Become a paid subscriber, support our work and listen ad-free with early access and exclusive bonus episodes at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.
Latest episodes

Oct 25, 2021 • 43min
E56: Gwangju uprising, part 4
The final part of our four-part podcast miniseries about the May 18 uprising in Gwangju, South Korea, in 1980 against the US-backed military dictatorship of Chun Doo Hwan. We speak with Kim Yong Ho, David Dolinger and Jeon Yong Ho, who took part in the events, as well as researcher and lead translator of the excellent book, Gwangju Diary, Kap Su Seol.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. For example patrons can listen to a new episode of the podcast as well as an exclusive bonus episode. Join us or find out more at https://patreon.com/workingclasshistoryThis week, we speak with our guests about the aftermath of the uprising, and its legacy in terms of later struggles, the restoration of democracy in 1987 and its repercussions today.See full information, acknowledgements, sources and a transcript here on our website: https://workingclasshistory.com/2021/06/29/e53-the-gwangju-uprising-1980/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Oct 8, 2021 • 42min
E55: Gwangju uprising, part 3
Part 3 of our four-part podcast miniseries about the May 18 uprising in Gwangju, South Korea, in 1980 against the US-backed military dictatorship of Chun Doo Hwan. We speak with Kim Yong Ho, David Dolinger and Jeon Yong Ho, who took part in the events, as well as researcher and lead translator of the excellent book, Gwangju Diary, Kap Su Seol.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. For example patrons can listen to all 4 parts of this miniseries now as well as an exclusive bonus episode. Join us or find out more at https://patreon.com/workingclasshistoryThis week, we speak with our guests about Gwangju commune, when the city was run by as residents, and about the subsequent retaking of the city and repression by the military.See full information, acknowledgements, sources and a transcript here on our website: https://workingclasshistory.com/2021/06/29/e53-the-gwangju-uprising-1980/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Sep 27, 2021 • 38min
E54: Gwangju uprising, part 2
Part 2 of our four-part podcast miniseries about the May 18 uprising in Gwangju, South Korea, in 1980 against the US-backed military dictatorship of Chun Doo Hwan. We speak with Kim Yong Ho, David Dolinger and Jeon Yong Ho, who took part in the events, as well as researcher and lead translator of the excellent book, Gwangju Diary, Kap Su Seol.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. For example patrons can listen to all 4 parts of this miniseries now as well as an exclusive bonus episode. Join us or find out more at https://patreon.com/workingclasshistory This week, we speak with our guests about the development of the uprising and its transformation into full-blown, armed insurrection.See full information, acknowledgements, sources and a transcript here on our website: https://workingclasshistory.com/2021/06/29/e53-the-gwangju-uprising-1980/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Sep 11, 2021 • 31min
E53: Gwangju uprising, part 1
First part of our podcast miniseries about the May 18 uprising in Gwangju, South Korea, in 1980 against the US-backed military dictatorship of Chun Doo Hwan. We speak with Kim Yong Ho, David Dolinger and Jeon Yong Ho, who took part in the events, as well as researcher and lead translator of the excellent book, Gwangju Diary, Kap Su Seol.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. For example patrons can listen to all 4 parts of this miniseries now as well as an exclusive bonus episode. Join us or find out more at https://patreon.com/workingclasshistoryIn part 1, we speak with our guests about the background to the uprising, and how it began.See full information, acknowledgements, sources and a transcript here on our website: https://workingclasshistory.com/2021/06/29/e53-the-gwangju-uprising-1980/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Jun 18, 2021 • 1h 2min
E52: The IWW in Canada
Podcast episode about the history of the revolutionary union the Industrial Workers of the World in Canada. We speak with historian and author Mark Leier about the union’s organising work amongst loggers, miners, road and railroad construction workers, First Nations dock workers and more.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at https://patreon.com/workingclasshistoryListen to the bonus episode attached to this episode here on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/e52-1-canadian-51361075Full show notes, acknowledgements, sources, links to more information and transcript on the webpage for this episode here: https://workingclasshistory.com/2021/05/17/e52-the-iww-in-canada/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Jun 10, 2021 • 51min
WCL E2: Joseph Skipsey – poet and pitman
Episode two of the Working Class Literature podcast about Joseph Skipsey, a poet and coal miner from the North East of England. After entering the mines as a child, he would grow up to become a nationally-renowned poet, respected by some of the most famous artists of the nineteenth century. In this episode, we speak to researcher Dr Gordon Tait and musician Chris Harrison, both of whom have been doing lots of work around Skipsey’s life and poetry.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Like for example a bonus episode about Joseph Skipsey.Join us or find out more at https://patreon.com/workingclasshistoryFull show notes and acknowledgements on our website: https://workingclasshistory.com/2021/05/27/wcl-e2-joseph-skipsey-poet-and-pitman/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Apr 12, 2021 • 1h 1min
E51: Jeon Tae-il and Lee So-sun
Podcast episode about two extremely influential South Korean worker organisers, Jeon Tae-il and Lee So-sun, and the autonomous self-organisation of women textile and garment workers in the country from the 1960s to the 1980s.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at https://patreon.com/workingclasshistoryFor more on South Korean people's history, you can get this book, Asia’s Unknown Uprisings Volume 1: South Korean Social Movements in the 20th Century by George Katsiaficas, here in our online store – https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/products/asias-unknown-uprisings-volume-1-south-korean-social-movements-in-the-20th-century-george-katsiaficasLearn more about the Heung Coalition at their website: https://www.heungcoalition.com/Full acknowledgements, sources, links, photos, more info and transcript on the webpage for this episode here: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e51-jeon-tae-il-and-lee-so-sun/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Feb 9, 2021 • 1h 7min
E50: Working Class History the book
Podcast episode in which we talk about our new book, Working Class History: Everyday Acts of Resistance & Rebellion, with our friends at the Coffee with Comrades podcast, which they edited and put out as their episode 114. They kindly shared the audio with us, which we have lightly edited for brevity and include here as our latest episode.In it, we discuss the book, the WCH project, the nature of people's history, our approach to class and its intersection with other forms of oppression. Our conversation also touches on lots of stories of rebellion, including the fight for the weekend, and tea breaks, opposing the Ku Klux Klan, resisting the police and more.Copies of the first printing of the book are still available in our online store: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/products/working-class-history-everyday-acts-resistance-rebellion-bookAnd for our lovely patrons, depending on your level you may be entitled to a free e-book version ($10/month and up), paperback ($20/month and up) or hardcover ($50/month and up). For patrons at other levels you can get 20% off it and every other book in our online store using an exclusive discount code.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at https://patreon.com/workingclasshistoryLinksFull show notes, links, acknowledgements and transcript here on our website: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e50-working-class-history-the-book/This original episode on Coffee with Comrades: https://coffeewithcomrades.com/episode-114-history-from-below-ft-working-class-historyMore about Coffee with Comrades: https://coffeewithcomrades.com/Follow them on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/coffeewcomradesAcknowledgementsThanks to you, our generous patrons for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Conor Canatsey, Ariel Gioia, and Shae.Photo courtesy https://www.instagram.com/katyeross/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Jan 11, 2021 • 55min
E49: Anti-Racist Action in Minneapolis
As a far-right mob storms the Capitol in Washington DC, learn more about the history of opposition to white supremacy in the US. This podcast episode tells the story of Anti-Racist Action, a militant anti-fascist organisation in Minneapolis, Minnesota founded in the 1980s.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at https://patreon.com/workingclasshistoryAnti-Racist Action (ARA) started in Minneapolis and is a predecessor to the crews often now called antifa. ARA started in 1987 with a multiracial group of teenage skinheads who fought the rising white power movement. It grew into a network of groups in at least 120 towns and cities across the US and Canada. ARA’s first principle was: “We go where they go. Never let the Nazis have the streets.” They eventually applied that not only to white power organising, but to homophobic and anti-abortion organizing, and to police violence, which they saw as all connected.Producer and host Anna Stitt tells the story of the group in Minneapolis through vivid first-person accounts, archival audio, and music from the era. It starts under the railroad tracks in Uptown, Minneapolis and traces a movement that continues to shape the US to this day.More information, photos, full acknowledgements and the transcript of this episode here on our website: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e49-anti-racist-action-in-minneapolis/Listen to our exclusive bonus episode, where we discussed the topic further with Anna, and listen to more tape from participants about their early lives, political backgrounds and more on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/e49-1-anti-bonus-46081746Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.

Dec 8, 2020 • 59min
E48: The green bans, part 2
Concluding part of our double podcast episode about green bans by building workers in Australia from 1970 to 1975 which held up billions of dollars of development which would have been harmful to the environment, or working class and Aboriginal communities.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at https://patreon.com/workingclasshistory In these episodes we speak with Dave Kerin, a former builders labourer and member of the Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) and current member of the Earthworker Collective, and Dr Meredith Burgmann, who was an active supporter of the green bans, co-authored Green Bans, Red Union: the Saving of a City with her sister Verity Burgmann, and was later a Labor member of parliament.We have produced merch commemorating the BLF and the green bans here to help fund our work: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/all/green-bansListen to both parts of this podcast now, as well as an exclusive bonus episode, by supporting us on patreon: https://patreon.com/workingclasshistoryMore information, transcripts and full show notes here on our website: https://workingclasshistory.com/2020/10/30/e47-48-green-bans/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-class-history--5711490/support.