The Fire These Times

For episode 157, Elia Ayoub sits with Bill Fletcher Jr to talk about why downplaying authoritarianism is so dangerous, whether with regards to the upcoming US elections or even in organising spaces. We spoke about the US, Lebanon, Syria, Zimbabwe and more. Bill Fletcher Jr is a longtime USA-based labor and social justice activist who has worked for several unions and organizations. Fletcher is the former president of TransAfrica Forum; a Senior Scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies; and in the leadership of several other projects. Fletcher is the co-author (with Peter Agard) of “The Indispensable Ally: Black Workers and the Formation of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, 1934-1941”; the co-author (with Dr. Fernando Gapasin) of “Solidarity Divided: The crisis in organized labor and a new path toward social justice“; and the author of “‘They’re Bankrupting Us’ – And Twenty other myths about unions.” Fletcher is a syndicated columnist and a regular media commentator on television, radio and the Web. The best way to support The Fire These Times is to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a member of our Patreon at Patreon.com/firethesetimes⁠⁠. With a monthly or yearly subscription, you get perks including early access, exclusive videos, monthly hangouts, access to the video and book clubs, merch and more. Leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. This allows us to show up on these platforms in the first place. Tell your friends and enemies about it. Episode Credits: Host(s): Elia J. Ayoub Producer(s): Elia J. Ayoub Guest(s): Bill Fletcher Jr Music: ⁠Rap and Revenge⁠ Sound editor(s): Elia J. Ayoub Episode designer(s): Elia J. Ayoub Team profile pics: Molly Crabapple Original TFTT design: Wenyi Geng

In this special collab episode between Obscuristan and The Fire These Times, Karena Avedissian and Anna are joined by Daniel Voskoboynik to discuss the life of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and what his death means for those of us not quite at the heart of the Russian empire. Plus, Anna and Karena announce that they're joining the wider TFTT collective!  Obscuristan is available wherever you listen to podcasts. About: Join political scientist Karena and total civilian Anna on a trip to Obscuristan. Each week, Karena and Anna dive into a truly bizarre story from Eurasia in its full political, social, and imperialist context. Join us, and you’ll find out why Obscuristan isn’t so strange at all when you consider the sh*t it’s been through. The best way to support The Fire These Times is to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a member of our Patreon at Patreon.com/firethesetimes⁠⁠. With a monthly or yearly subscription, you get perks including early access, exclusive videos, monthly hangouts, access to the video and book clubs, merch and more. Leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. This allows us to show up on these platforms in the first place. Tell your friends and enemies about it. Episode Credits: Hosts: Karena Avedissian and Anna Producer: Anna Guest: Daniel Voskoboynik Music: ⁠Sarven Yapar⁠ Sound editor: Anna Episode designer: Elia J. Ayoub Team profile pics: Molly Crabapple

This is a compilation of 4 episodes of our new podcast Politically Depressed, created by writer and organizer Ayman Makarem. These are episodes 9-12 compiled into one long episode (with time codes below). If you enjoy this podcast, please consider following and rating it on whatever app you use to listen to your podcasts (It really makes a huge difference to our visibility.) Time codes: 00:00 - Episode 9: This Fire Will Consume You Too 20:20 - Episode 10: Do Protests Work? 41:45 - Episode 11: I Caught a Zionist Infiltrator at a Palestine Solidarity Protest 59:00 - Episode 12: Community of Grief w/ Lina Mounzer The best way to support Politically Depressed and The Fire These Times is through ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/firethesetimes⁠⁠⁠⁠. The other other best way is to tell your friends and enemies about Politically Depressed and The Fire These Times.

For episode 155, Ayman sits with Beirut-based journalist and friend of the show, Justin Salhani, to talk about his recent essay for Al-Jazeera. Expanding on the essay, the two talk about parallels between the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon and siege of Beirut and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. As two children of survivors of the '82 siege, their conversation moves between political/military analysis and discussions of memory and narratives as tools of agency.  The best way to support The Fire These Times is to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a member of our Patreon at Patreon.com/firethesetimes⁠⁠. With a monthly or yearly subscription, you get perks including early access, exclusive videos, monthly hangouts, access to the video and book clubs, merch and more. Leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. This allows us to show up on these platforms in the first place. Tell your friends and enemies about it. Episode Credits: Hosts: Ayman Makarem Producer: Ayman Makarem Guest: Justin Salhani Music: ⁠Rap and Revenge⁠ Sound editor: Ayman Makarem Episode designer: Elia J. Ayoub Team profile pics: Molly Crabapple Original TFTT design: Wenyi Geng

For episode 154, French-Moroccan-Amazigh analyst Sahar Amarir joins Elia J. Ayoub and Leila Al-Shami to talk about her piece "Imperialist is Multiple, so Should be Our Solidarities: on the Need for Post-Post-Colonialism"  published in The Funambulist.  The best way to support The Fire These Times is: Through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/firethesetimes⁠⁠. With a monthly or yearly donation, you get perks including early access, exclusive videos, monthly hangouts, access to the video and book clubs, merch and more. Leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. This allows us to show up on these platforms in the first place. Tell your friends and enemies about it. Episode Credits: Hosts: Elia J. Ayoub and Leila Al-Shami Producer: Elia J. Ayoub Guest: Margaret Killjoy Music: ⁠⁠Rap and Revenge⁠⁠ Sound editor: Artin Salimi Episode designer: Elia J. Ayoub Team profile pics: Molly Crabapple Original TFTT design: Wenyi Geng

For episode 153, anarchist writer, musician and podcaster Margaret Killjoy joins Elia J. Ayoub and Aydın Yıldız to talk about the very easy topic of apocalypse. What does that even mean? And how do we deal with that without falling into complete despair? Many of y'all know that one of the taglines of this pod is building the new in the shell of the old, right? Well, this is about that. Sort of. It's mainly about staying sane and healthy and as hopeful as possible long enough to even want to build the new in the shell of the old. Margaret Killjoy, in our view, is one of the best minds on this difficult subject, and we think you'll agree. Transcript: This episode's transcript is available on the website. If you'd like to help make The Fire These Times more accessible you can help out with transcriptions by reaching out to Antidote Zine, the collective with whom we are working on transcripts. Show notes: Penumbra City, the new ttrpg by Strangers in a Tangled Wilderness Margaret's two pods: Live Like the World is Dying and Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff Margaret's essay for Slingshot Collective that's behind this episode's title as well as one of her podcasts Margaret's essay Don't Let Nazis Have Nice Things republished by Antidote Zine The best way to support The Fire These Times is: Through ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/firethesetimes⁠. With a monthly or yearly donation, you get perks including early access, exclusive videos, monthly hangouts, access to the video and book clubs, merch and more. Leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. This allows us to show up on these platforms in the first place. Tell your friends and enemies about it. Episode Credits: Hosts: Elia J. Ayoub and Aydın Yıldız Producer: Elia J. Ayoub Guest: Margaret Killjoy Music: ⁠Rap and Revenge⁠ Sound editor: Elia J. Ayoub Episode designer: Elia J. Ayoub

For episode 152, Dana El Kurd hosts Geoffrey Levin to talk about his book "Our Palestine Question: Israel and American Jewish Dissent, 1948-1978". Levin is assistant professor of Middle Eastern and Jewish Studies at Emory University and the Director of Undergraduate Engagement at Emory’s Tam Institute for Jewish Studies. Our Palestine Question is a new history of the American Jewish relationship with Israel focused on its most urgent and sensitive issue: the question of Palestinian rights. Given the ongoing genocide launched by the Israeli state on the Palestinians of Gaza, this book couldn't be more timely. Show notes: Fida Jiryis - Stranger in My Own Land: Palestine, Israel and One Family's Story of Home Ezra Klein - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/26/opinion/netanyahu-biden-israel-gaza.html David Klion - https://www.nybooks.com/online/2024/01/28/the-exile-of-the-american-jewish-left/ The threshold of dissent - https://nyupress.org/9781479829316/the-threshold-of-dissent Necessity of Exile (Shaul Magid’s book) - https://mitpressbookstore.mit.edu/book/9798986780313 The best way to support The Fire These Times is: Through ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/firethesetimes. With a monthly or yearly donation, you get perks including early access, exclusive videos, monthly hangouts, access to the video and book clubs, merch and more. Leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. This allows us to show up on these platforms in the first place. Tell your friends and enemies about it. Episode Credits: Host: Dana El KurdProducer: Elia J. AyoubGuest: Geoffrey LevinMusic: ⁠Rap and Revenge⁠Sound editor: Elia J. AyoubEpisode designer: Elia J. Ayoub

This is a compilation of 4 episodes of our new podcast Politically Depressed, a weekly podcast by Lebanese writer and organizer Ayman Makarem. These are episodes 5-8 compiled into one long episode (with time codes below). If you enjoy this podcast, please consider following and rating it on whatever app you use to listen to your podcasts! Time codes: 00:00 - Episode 5: Sounds of Silence 22:00 - Episode 6: White People Cannot Stop Fascism (Alone) 48:30 - Episode 7: Life on Pause 1:12:20 - Episode 8: Treat Us As Though We're Mourning The best way to support Politically Depressed and The Fire These Times is through ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/firethesetimes⁠⁠⁠⁠. The other best way is to leave a review about Politically Depressed and The Fire These Times wherever you listen to podcasts. Please do this if you haven't already. It makes a huge difference to our visibility. And the other other best way is to tell your friends and enemies about Politically Depressed and The Fire These Times.

For episode 151, Joey Ayoub and Daniel Voskoboynik host Tory Stephens, Climate Fiction Creative Manager at Grist.org, to talk about Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors and why narrative work is an integral part of any climate solution. Why does Imagine 2200 choose hope over dystopia? What are effective narrative shifting tactics and strategies? Stephens is also on the Hollywood Climate Summit Board so Joey talked to him about moving beyond post/apocalyptic films. We also asked him how listeners can take part in Imagine 2200. Relevant Links: The Tobacco campaign mentioned by Joey: https://www.unsmokeyourworld.com/en/ Too Dystopian for Whom? A Continental Nigerian Writer’s Perspective by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/too-dystopian-for-whom-a-continental-nigerian-writers-perspective/ Imagine 2200 email updates: https://go.grist.org/signup/imagine-email  About Imagine 2200: https://grist.org/about-imagine-2200-climate-fiction/  2024 Collection Page: https://grist.org/imagine2200-climate-fiction-2024/ The best way to support The Fire These Times is through ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/firethesetimes⁠⁠⁠⁠. The other best way is to leave a review about The Fire These Times wherever you listen to podcasts. Please do this if you haven't already. It makes a huge difference to our visibility. And the other other best way is to tell your friends and enemies about The Fire These Times. Credits Host(s): Joey Ayoub and Daniel Voskoboyni Producer(s): Joey Ayoub Guest(s): Tory Stephens Music: ⁠Rap and Revenge⁠ Sound editor(s): Joey Ayoub Episode designer(s): Joey Ayoub Portrait Arts (Joey and Daniel's): Molly Crabapple Artist of the original image: Taj Francis - Imagine 2200 Collection Cover

For episode 150, Lebanese journalist Justin Salhani guest hosts Lebanese researchers Michelle Eid and Karim Safieddine to talk about the under-reported and overlooked war in southern Lebanon. They look at the human impact of this conflict on Lebanon - a country that in just over four years has experienced a stunted revolution, one of modern history's worst economic crises, and the destruction of large parts of its capital due to a port explosion. They dissect media narratives, share personal anecdotes, and tie the current conflict to history, recalling the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, and more.  Michelle Eid is a researcher focused on socio-economic rights and development in the Levant, with a focus on food sovereignty and agricultural politics. She is also the editor-in-chief of Al Rawiya, a digital magazine covering the Levant. Karim Safieddine is an organizer and researcher from Lebanon; he's completing his PhD in Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh. Pieces by Salhani: Waiting for Nasrallah for The Dial Survivors of Israel’s siege of Beirut see history repeating itself in Gaza for Al Jazeera Palestinian refugees in Lebanon mourn, fear for family in war-torn Gaza for Al Jazeera ‘No work back home’: Lebanon’s foreign domestic workers fear Israel war for Al Jazeera Israel-Hamas war sparks south Lebanon exodus, as people flee border areas for Al Jazeera Pieces by Eid: Israel’s Environmental and Economic Warfare on Lebanon for TIMEP (In)Sovereign Soils: Lebanon’s Entrapment in a Global Monopoly on Agriculture for Al Rawiya Joey's Note: "October 17" isn't to be confused with "October 7". October 17 refers to the 2019 uprising in Lebanon whereas October 7 refers to the 2023 Hamas attack which was followed by Israel's ongoing genocidal war in Palestine. Book Recommendations:  House of Many Mansions - Karim Salibi Return to Haifa - Ghassan Kanafani Being Arab - Samir Kassir The New Left - Fawaz Traboulsi The best way to support The Fire These Times is through ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/firethesetimes⁠⁠⁠. The other best way is to leave a review about The Fire These Times wherever you listen to podcasts. Please do this if you haven't already. It makes a huge difference to our visibility. And the other other best way is to tell your friends and enemies about The Fire These Times. Credits Host: Justin Salhani Producer: Ayman Makarem Guests: Karim Safieddine, Michelle Eid Music: ⁠Rap and Revenge⁠ Sound editor: Ayman Makarem Episode designer: Joey Ayoub