Upstream

Novelist Manda Scott and podcast host Nathalie Nahai join Della to reflect on the past year, discuss the global psyche, building community, embracing uncertainty, and exploring the interconnectedness of life and death. They emphasize the need for collaboration, connection, and making positive changes in a fractured world.

Adam Hanieh, an expert in the political economy of Palestine, discusses the ongoing Israeli aggression and mass slaughter of Palestinians. He explores the impact of the Oslo Accords on the political economy of Palestine and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Additionally, he delves into the role of neoliberalism, US influence, and international financial institutions in shaping the Palestinian economy.

Sumaya Awad, an expert on the history and current situation in Palestine, discusses the need to move beyond a two-state solution, the role of the Israeli working class in the struggle for liberation, the exploitation of Palestinian labor by the Histadruz, the contradictions of kibbutzim, the failure of the Oslo Peace Process, internal barriers to Palestinian self-determination, and the first steps towards a just solution in Palestine.

Guests Rupa Marya and Jess Ghannam discuss the complicity of healthcare institutions in the devastation of Palestine, including the silence of Western health institutions and the power structures perpetuating settler colonialism and white supremacy. They analyze the unethical targeting of healthcare workers and the controversial article in JAMA that tries to create moral ambiguity around bombing hospitals. The speakers also emphasize the rise of right-wing ideology and the importance of solidarity with Palestine. They highlight the concept of decolonizing medicine, the need for self-care, and learning from elders.

Noura Erakat discusses the history and context of Israeli occupation, Palestinian resistance, and the disingenuous peace process. They explore the bias against Palestinians, the failure of the two-state solution, and the asymmetry of power. The podcast also covers the lead up to the Oslo Accords, Palestinian organizing against the British mandate, and upcoming episodes and book recommendations.

Charisse Burden-Stelly discusses the history and pervasive nature of the Red Scare and Black Scare in the U.S., exploring their impact on policies, collective consciousness, and social movements. The podcast highlights examples of anti-black and anti-communist governance, challenges faced by black radicals, and the dangerous nature of combining race and class consciousness. It also examines the presence of these scares in modern times and the importance of joining organized movements for effective engagement in the class war.

August Nimtz, a Marxist perspective on elections, discusses the role of electoralism for the revolutionary left and its relation to the working class. The podcast explores the history of the Russian Revolution and how Marx, Engels, and Lenin approached electoralism. The Democratic Party's connection to the working class and the importance of organizing solidarity for strikes are also discussed.

In this episode, Mia Birdsong, author of 'How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community', discusses the importance of building healthy communities and reevaluating societal values. They explore the impact of capitalism on our ability to connect and support one another, the meaning of showing up for someone, setting boundaries without bosses or policing, and cultivating a collective vitality for a liberated future.

Sumaya Awad, a knowledgeable guest on the history of Palestine, discusses the origins of Zionism, Israel's suppression of Palestinian history and culture, and the importance of advocating for a ceasefire and ending funding for the apartheid state. She also talks about her work in advocating for Palestine in the US and her contribution to a book exploring a socialist perspective on Palestine.

Learn about the importance of organizing and forming a Vanguard Party. Explore revolutionary theory and practice, critiquing economism and the Leninist perspective. Dive into the debate between Marx and anarchists on revolutionary strategies. Discover the limited reach of reforms and the questioning of the welfare state. Explore the importance of political independence and conscious action. Understand the role of a vanguard party and the need for political organization. Explore the challenges of building a vanguard party and the significance of political education.