Novara Media

Laurie Laybourn, Executive Director of the Strategic Climate Risks Initiative and co-author of "Planet on Fire," delves into the pressing realities of climate change and the challenges of energy transition. He discusses the ethical dilemmas of geoengineering as a tempting solution, the global implications of breaching the Paris Agreement, and the precariousness of food security amid climate impacts. Laybourn emphasizes the need for community resilience and the importance of systemic changes to address the intertwined crises of climate change and national security.

Matt Kennard, an investigative journalist from Declassified UK, sheds light on Britain's role in the Gaza conflict, suggesting potential complicity in war crimes. He critiques the historical misuse of foreign aid, especially under Trump's administration, and examines the hidden ties between UK military operations and corporate interests. The conversation also touches on the pressing need for a rejuvenated left in politics and the impact of media narratives on public perception, advocating for transparency and accountability in global affairs.

Jodi Dean, a political theorist and author of "Capital's Grave: Neo-Feudalism and the New Class Struggle," dives deep into the current shift towards a neo-feudal system. She discusses the rise of a servant vanguard and the implications of gig economy dynamics. Dean highlights the stark contrasts of labor in today's economy and advocates for a reevaluation of centralized power. She also explores hinterlandization, shedding light on social rifts between urban centers and their declining areas, and champions the idea of service workers as key players in ushering change.

In this captivating discussion, Angus Hanton, a businessman and author of 'Vassal State: How America Runs Britain', challenges the notion of the UK's 'special relationship' with the US. He argues that this alliance may be more harmful than beneficial, compromising Britain's autonomy and living standards. Hanton delves into the implications of American influence on British politics, military capacity, and economic security. He raises crucial questions about shifting loyalties, national identity, and the future of UK-US relations amid changing geopolitical dynamics.

In the wake of Assad’s regime collapse and the call for the Kurdish Worker’s Party to disband, Elif Sarican talks to Richard Hames about how to make sense of this new world, and whether or not the Kurdish revolution in Rojava can survive. Comments, corrections, suggestions? fm@novaramedia.com

Khem Rogaly, a Senior Research Fellow at Common Wealth and author of 'A Lucas Plan for the 21st Century', discusses Europe's military rearmament amid diminished U.S. support for Ukraine. He examines Germany’s removal of the debt brake and France's push for a European army. Rogaly advocates for redirecting military budgets toward climate action and sustainable practices, challenging the current military-industrial complex. He argues for transitioning to civilian manufacturing focused on renewable energy and emphasizes the need for a collaborative, climate-focused foreign policy.

When we talk about politics – whether it’s the climate, the economy or constitutional reform – the thing that’s at stake is an idea of ‘the future’. These days, the idea of imminent societal or ecological breakdown necessarily means adopting the framing of the present as being a ‘state of emergency’. This is an obvious […]

What’s the point of the arts when the world is on fire? To follow the pipeline from creativity to activism and back again, Nadia Idle is joined by Amber Massie-Blomfield, former chief of theatre company Complicité and the author of Acts of Resistance: The Power of Art to Create Better World. They discuss Dan Edelstyn […]

Lockdown was one of the defining experiences of our lives, but it was far from unique in history. Contagion and confinement are inextricably intertwined, from the plantation to the infirmary, the leper colony to the stay-at-home order. In The History of the World in 6 Plagues, Edna Bonhomme investigates how fear, power, race science and colonial violence […]

Josephine Quinn, Chair of Ancient History at Cambridge and author of "How the World Made the West," dives into the complexities of Western civilization's history. She challenges the simplistic view of the West as a homogeneous entity, highlighting its rich tapestry woven from diverse cultures and ancient kingdoms. Discussions span from the interconnectedness of civilizations to the implications of technology on societal evolution. Quinn also examines the narratives shaped by historical figures and the impact of modern media on our understanding of the past.