Novara Media

Novelist and essayist Pankaj Mishra discusses the power of fiction in understanding complex issues. Topics covered include Hindu nationalism in India, the political implications of humiliation, and the role of injustice in fueling anger. Mishra also talks about his current projects, the intersection of politics and literature, and the influence of creative writing schools.

Gary Younge, a thoughtful and compassionate voice on the British left, talks about his eventful career in journalism, reporting in Soviet Russia, the crisis facing the Labour Party, and spending 13 hours getting drunk with Maya Angelou. They also discuss the power of self-doubt, purposeful writing, and the influence of black America on black British society. Additionally, they explore their experiences covering Nelson Mandela's campaign trail and the racial dynamics between black communities in the UK and US.

Lynsey Hanley, a writer who has experienced social mobility, discusses the psychosocial dimensions of crossing the class divide in Britain. Topics include autodidactism, the political impact of '80s pop, and the brief flowering of working class culture subsidized by squatting, grants, and the dole.

Yanis Varoufakis, author of 'Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism', explores the battle over digital real estate, the rise of tech giants, and the US's fear of China. They discuss cloud capital and techno-feudalism, the influence of big tech, the shift of power from the West to the East, and the loss of privacy.

Jay Owens, an expert on the impact of tiny particles and environmental devastation, discusses the scale of our impact on the planet through dust. They explore the historical origins of air pollution, the destructive cost of Los Angeles' growth, the environmental devastation of water extraction in Uzbekistan, the transformation of Uzbekistan into a tourist destination, the efforts to bring back water to damaged land, the impact of airborne dust particles, and the complexity of restoration and repair.

Renowned journalist and author Naomi Klein discusses being constantly confused with another author, Naomi Wolf. They explore the mix-up, the rise of conspiracy theories, and the appeal of figures like Steve Bannon. They also delve into co-opting revolutionary symbols, the challenges of getting recognition in capitalism, and the role of Jewishness in Israel. Overall, they emphasize the importance of collective action and organizing to combat oppressive systems.

For the second episode of our series on class, writer and broadcaster Kenan Malik takes us through three centuries of thought to explain the origins of identity politics. It all starts with Haitian Revolution and its contribution to the radical Enlightenment – a movement that sought to overcome the racism inherent in the other, liberal […]

Nick Dearden has been an economic justice campaigner for over 20 years, and his attention was on the pharmaceutical industry when Covid-19 hit. But as the world began to sing the praises of pharmaceutical companies, Nick saw an unprecedented PR coup. Giant corporations capitalised on the crisis, tightening their stranglehold over the health of the […]

The politics of ‘deep adaptation’ is as intriguing as it is controversial. Jem Bendell, a former professor of sustainability leadership, launched the Deep Adaptation movement in 2018 by claiming that social collapse is not just a plausible outcome of climate change, but an extremely likely one. He sat down with Richard Hames in Berlin to […]

Rory Stewart has led a colourful life: diplomat in Indonesia, governor in post-invasion Iraq, founder of an NGO and a Member of Parliament. He’s also run for London Mayor and leader of the Conservative Party. But his latest occupation is podcaster, hosting ‘The Rest is Politics’ with Alastair Campbell. Rory sat down with Ash Sarkar […]