

The Owen Jones Podcast
Owen Jones
Owen Jones, journalist, author of Chavs and The Establishment, or "that left-wing idiot off the telly", is fed up with the establishment media. After all, it punches down, not up, blames minorities for all the problems in society, and, let's face it, often just parrots the government line. So this podcast is offering something different: speaking truth to power, giving the marginalised a voice, offering hope - and having a laugh along the way. From Michael Sheen to Judith Butler, Prof. Devi Sridhar to Noam Chomsky, Peter Hitchens to Chelsea Manning and Gary Younge to Stewart Lee, the interviewees couldn't be more eclectic. Expect documentaries, too, exposing injustice and going to enemy territory - and discussions with experts on everything from COVID dreams about the pandemic to the history of US-backed coups. We'll learn a lot - but above all else, have our optimism in a better world rebooted. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 30, 2022 • 1h 1min
Has Boris Johnson Got Away With It?
A few months ago, Boris Johnson's political fate seemed sealed: after revelations of rampant illegal partying in No. 10 during the pandemic, his personal polling collapsed and Tory MPs began demanding his resignation. But after the Sue Gray report, will the Tories commit regicide - or is Johnson leading the Tories into the next election?We're joined by the Financial Times' Sebastian PaynePlease subscribe - and help us offer an alternative here: https://patreon.com/owenjones84Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 28, 2022 • 19min
Monkeypox: Should You Be Worried?
As over 200 monkeypox cases are reported in 21 countries, many are having flashbacks to early days of the Covid pandemic. How worried should we be?Oxford Professor Aris Katzourakis gives a masterclass on everything you need to know: what monkeypox is, whats its relationship with smallpox, what the symptoms are, how deadly it is, has it mutated or could it, will it spread to our pets, why the outbreak is disproportionately affecting gay and bisexual men, and can we eradicate monkeypox altogether?Please like, subscribe - and help us offer an alternative here: https://patreon.com/owenjones84Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 20, 2022 • 37min
Wow: George Monbiot on Ending Hunger - Without Destroying Our Planet
George Monbiot is one of Britain's most eloquent, intelligent and wise writers, a relentless defender of social justice and a fighter against the climate emergency and the human-made threat to our only planet, Earth. We talk about his epic new book Regenesis: Feeding the World Without Devouring the Planet - from the truth about soil ecology, to whether plant-based diets are the way forward, to new protein substitutes, to new farming methods, to the threats to our food systems and how we can fight them.One of the most enlightening interviews you'll ever listen to!Please subscribe - and help us take on the right-wing media here: https://patreon.com/owenjones84Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 16, 2022 • 50min
Apartheid Israel Attacks Funeral
The Israeli state not only killed iconic Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqla - the police force then attacked her funeral procession. Much of the world is shocked - but governments continue to arm and back the Israeli state, disregarding the conclusions of Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and B'Tselem that it is guilty of Apartheid. Is the Israeli state overreaching so much that Western public opinion will shift decisively against it?We talk to Salem Barahmeh, Executive Director of Rabet, and Sarit Michaeli from Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem, about what's happening on the ground, whether accountability is possible, what the mood is - and what happens next.Please subscribe - and help us take on the right-wing media here: https://patreon.com/owenjones84Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 12, 2022 • 1h 8min
Noam Chomsky on Ukraine and nuclear armageddon
Noam Chomsky is one of the world's pre-eminent intellectuals, and an icon of dissent going back literally generations. I speak to him about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and what anti-war activists should be saying. What does he think about the role of NATO? Should the left supporting arming Ukraine on the basis this is a naked war of aggression? What are Russia's war aims? What would a peace deal look like in these circumstances - and how would it last? And most of all - does he think a nuclear war is possible?Please subscribe - and help us take on the Establishment media here: https://patreon.com/owenjones84Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 9, 2022 • 1h 6min
Johnson and Starmer in Crisis?
The Tories took a battering in the local elections, losing even more seats than they feared, including nearly collapsing as a political force in London, as well as suffering a drubbing across the South. Has a cost-of-living crisis and a scandal-ridden Conservative government defined by deceit and corruption finally collided with electoral reality?But there is little cheer for Labour here: outside of the capital, the party's support has fallen in England compared to 2018, and important wins - like Wandsworth and Westminster - have been eclipsed by losses elsewhere, leading to few net gains in England. Labour's strong showing in Wales is surely something for popular Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford to take the credit for. With Keir Starmer - who bet the house on partygate - now under police investigation, how much of a mess are both the Tories and Labour in?We are joined by Britain's pre-eminent psephologist Sir John Curtice, and then journalist Paul Mason and Novara Media's Michael Walker to discuss the political situation.Please subscribe - and help us offer an alternative media here: https://patreon.com/owenjones84Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 2, 2022 • 59min
Tractor Porn and Misogyny
First the Mail on Sunday launched a crude misogynistic attack on Angela Rayner; then Tory MP Neil Parish was caught watching pornography in the House of Commons. What does this say about misogyny in politics - and how should we discuss misogyny and pornography? We’re joined by Shaista Aziz - Labour councillor and campaigner against male violence against women - and Ivy Maddox from United Sex Workers. Please subscribe - and help us take on the right wing media here: https://www.Patreon.com/owenjones84Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 28, 2022 • 49min
Nish Kumar on the BBC, 'cancel culture', rehabilitating monsters, comedy, and racism
Nish Kumar is a brilliant comedian and an all-round lovely guy, and we have a lot to chat about: his experiences working at the BBC, whether there's any truth to 'cancel culture', how monsters who've caused so much damage ended up being turned into national sweethearts, whether comedy has been dumbed down and become less fearless, and confronting racism.Please subscribe - and help us take on the right-wing media: https://patreon.com/owenjones84Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 25, 2022 • 49min
Is Boris Johnson Finally Toast?
Boris Johnson's whole career has been about defying the laws of political gravity, often aided and abetted by a supine media. But as both him and his government are convulsed by scandal - and the country is gripped by a cost of living crisis - has his luck finally run out?We are joined by two brilliant commentators: LBC's Iain Dale and the New Statesman's George Eaton!Please subscribe - and help us take on the right-wing media here: https://www.patreon.com/owenjones84Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 23, 2022 • 30min
Will Le Pen Win? How 'Centrism' Turned France Into a Cauldron of Anger
With an epic showdown between the far-right's Marine Le Pen and neoliberal Emmanuel Macron in the second round of the French presidential election - is this really a done deal? How has the far right come closer to winning power in a Western European nation than at any time since 1945? What will those who voted for the left-wing insurgent Jean-Luc Mélenchon do? Why did five years of so-called 'moderate' rule leave France more divided and polarised than it was before? And what is the future of France - and with it, Europe and beyond?We travelled to France to spend time with the Mélenchon campaign and its supporters, we went to Le Pen country to find out why voters who previously opted for the left have defected to the far right, we spoke to Macron supporters - and ordinary people who are angry and disillusioned in a society which is rigged against them.Please subscribe - and if you want us to make more of these documentaries, and tell us what you want us to make, support us here: https://patreon.com/owenjones84Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


