Breht O'Shea and Alyson Escalante, known for their insightful work on revolutionary theory, dive deep into the intricate ties between capitalism and imperialism. They explain how capitalism has evolved into monopoly capitalism and the implications of Lenin's theories for modern society. The duo highlights the role of the state in perpetuating financial oligarchy and the urgent calls for radical change. Notably, they connect the struggle for resources with social unrest, encouraging international solidarity among the working class against systemic exploitation.

Discover the profound notion of the non-human world as the speaker reflects on emotional connections to nature. Journey with them to a cabin in the woods that ignites creativity and a deeper bond with the environment. Engage with the complexities of humanity's relationship with technology through a reading of Loren Eiseley's 'The Bird and the Machine.' Explore a pristine valley that serves as a reminder of nature's beauty and the historical struggles that shaped it. This exploration invites listeners to reconsider our place within a greater tapestry of life.

Manda Scott, a prolific novelist and host of Accidental Gods, and Nathalie Nahai, a behavior science advisor and author, celebrate the winter solstice by reflecting on the past year and envisioning the future. They discuss navigating the intersection of AI and eco-socialism, revealing ethical concerns and the need for systemic change. The conversation also dives into emotional resilience and collective healing, emphasizing self-exploration. With insights into anti-capitalist strategies, they highlight the importance of community connections for a more equitable future.

Torkil Lauesen, a seasoned activist and writer from Denmark, shares his 50 years of experience in historical materialism. He discusses its foundational role in understanding societal changes and class structures. Torkil recounts his activism during the late 60s to 80s, his imprisonment linked to anti-imperialist work, and his insights into the relationship between capitalism and ecological crises. He critiques neoliberalism and explores the complexities of post-colonial struggles, emphasizing the need for socialist principles in contemporary resistance movements.

Da'Shaun Harrison, a writer and co-executive director of Scalawag Magazine, dives deep into the intersections of anti-fatness and anti-Blackness. He unpacks how both ideologies are intertwined, rooted in systemic violence and historical eugenics. The conversation critiques the Body Mass Index (BMI) and its troubling origins, highlighting its detrimental effects on marginalized bodies. Harrison calls for a reimagining of liberation through collective action, emphasizing the need for transformative change in our understanding of these intertwined oppressions.

The discussion kicks off with a refreshing look at socialism and its historical critiques, amidst persistent anti-communist sentiments. It highlights an individual's journey through capitalism's failures, advocating for socialism as a vital response to these issues. Urgency takes center stage as the need for a strategic transition to socialism in the face of ongoing industrial capitalism is emphasized. Collective action and learning from past struggles emerge as crucial themes for achieving meaningful change.

Roman Krznaric, a social philosopher and Research Fellow at the Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, discusses how our understanding of time impacts our actions today and for future generations. He emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking and ancestral responsibility. Krznaric explores concepts like 'temporal intelligence' and critiques short-termism, urging listeners to consider their legacy. He also highlights the power of community and solidarity as essential tools for fostering a more connected and hopeful society.

In this engaging discussion, Patrick Higgins, a researcher with a PhD in Arab History, dives into the rich historical tapestry of the Palestinian resistance movement. He examines its profound impact on decolonial Marxism and the fight against both British colonialism and U.S. imperialism. The conversation highlights the movement's evolution, the significance of primary sources in reshaping perspectives on Zionism, and critiques the pitfalls of ideological purity in leftist politics. Higgins also unpacks the complex interplay between religious beliefs and Palestinian nationalism.

Exhaustion. What a perfect and powerful word to describe our times. Exhausted bodies—over-worked, over-productive, over-stretched. Bodies pushed to their limits, treated like machines whose sole existence is to produce profit. Exhausted ecosystems—extracted, ruined, plundered. Viewed as nothing but raw material for the ceaseless flow of capital accumulation. Exhausted minds—hurried and harried, no time for joy, for introspection, for pondering the cosmos. Our minds are tethered to an orbit delineated by distraction, denial, and despair. Exhaustion. 2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record—and unless you’ve been consciously avoiding it you’ve probably seen the videos of the devastating floods, wildfires, and “once in a thousand years” storms that are increasingly becoming a part of our daily lives. The reality of climate change is no longer one of the future, one that can be framed in a discussion about coming generations—it’s here already. And it’s not even a question anymore of capitalism being the driving factor—that’s an old conversation. The question now is: what are we going to do about it? How do we respond, right now? Ajay Singh Chaudhary is the executive director of the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research and core faculty member specializing in social and political theory and author of The Exhausted of the Earth: Politics in a Burning World, published by Repeater Books. In this episode, we analyze and unpack the many forms of exhaustion that shape us and our world today. We explore the politics of climate change, from right-wing climate responses to those coming from the left, we explore the extractive circuit of capitalism as it stretches its tentacles from lithium mines in The DRC to Doordash drivers in the suburbs of the West. We explore imperialism, Marxist theory, revolutionary classes, revolutionary strategies, and why the “exhausted of the earth” are the mass political subject of our times. Further Resources The Exhausted of the Earth: Politics in a Burning World, by Ajay Singh Chaudhary Brooklyn Institute for Social Research Related Episodes: The Fight for The Congo w/ Vijay Prashad Degrowth vs Eco-Modernism Buddhism and Marxism with Breht O'Shea Climate Leninism w/ Jodi Dean and Kai Heron Intermission music: "Non-Metaphorical Decolonization" by Mount Eerie Upstream is a labor of love—we couldn't keep this project going without the generosity of our listeners and fans. Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/upstreampodcast or please consider chipping in a one-time or recurring donation at www.upstreampodcast.org/support If your organization wants to sponsor one of our upcoming documentaries, we have a number of sponsorship packages available. Find out more at  upstreampodcast.org/sponsorship For more from Upstream, visit www.upstreampodcast.org and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky. You can also subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

This is a free preview of the episode "The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness w/ Da'Shuan Harrison," which will be unlocked in a few weeks. To can get early access to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you will 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 stickers and bumper stickers—depending on which tier you subscribe to. You’ll also be helping to keep Upstream sustainable and allowing us to keep this project going. Find out more at Patreon.com/upstreampodcast or at upstreampodcast.org/support. Thank you. Anti-fatness as anti-Blackness. Being Black and fat in our capitalist, white-supremacist, ableist, heteronormative society is to live in a body that is subjected to a form of unique violence marked by policing, misdiagnosis, discrimination, abuse, trauma—the list goes on.  And anti-fatness and anti-Blackness are not simply two separate things—disparate nodes on a circuit of oppression—anti-fatness and anti-Blackness form a crucial intersection, and are ultimately one and the same, according to our guest, in terms of their history, structural, weaponization, and deployment by the ideological apparatuses of the capitalist state and the violence which it upholds.  In this episode, we’ll be discussing anti-fatness as anti-Blackness with Da'Shaun Harrison—a writer, editor, speaker, community organizer, co-executive director of Scalawag Magazine, and author of Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness, published by North Atlantic Books. In this conversation, we explore the field of fat studies, the history of anti-fatness and anti-Blackness, why we should view anti-fatness as anti-Blackness, the eugenicist history of BMI—or the Body Mass Index—the need to stretch and grow abolition politics, the importance of unlearning supremacist ideology, and much more.  Further resources: Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness, published by North Atlantic Books Da'Shaun's LinkTree Roxanne Gay Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia, Sabrina Strings Heavy: An American Memoir, Kiese Laymon The Embodiment of Disobedience: Fat Black Women’s Unruly Political Bodies, Andrea Shaw Related episodes: Abolish the Police Upstream is a labor of love — we couldn't keep this project going without the generosity of our listeners and fans. Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/upstreampodcast or please consider chipping in a one-time or recurring donation at www.upstreampodcast.org/support If your organization wants to sponsor one of our upcoming documentaries, we have a number of sponsorship packages available. Find out more at  upstreampodcast.org/sponsorship For more from Upstream, visit www.upstreampodcast.org and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky. You can also subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.