ACFM

The discussion dives into the intriguing role of humility in politics, especially during elections. It tackles the legacy of the British left and the impact of figures like Jeremy Corbyn. The crew examines how ambient music influences our understanding of history and social movements. They dissect the interplay between humility and humiliation, drawing from Kendrick Lamar's lyrics and broader societal dynamics. The conversation also highlights the importance of humility in activism, as well as its evolution in political discourse, and the challenges posed by social media.

The ACFM crew offer their first reactions to Labour’s landslide election win. Can Starmer’s government rescue the public sector? Where will the money come from? And can they make it to a second term? Sign up to the ACFM newsletter: https://novaramedia.com/newsletters Produced and edited by Matt Huxley and Chal Ravens. Help us build people-powered media: […]

After investigating the politics of cool on the last Trip episode, the crew turn their attention to another distinctly modern sensibility: camp. Digging into Susan Sontag’s formative 1964 essay on the camp aesthetic, Nadia, Keir and Jem think about how elements of the artificial, the theatrical and the sentimental come together in camp objects, from […]

Exploring the concept of 'cool' and its political implications, the podcast delves into the evolution of coolness, the Cool Girl phenomenon, and the complexities of cool as a psychological posture. It discusses the historical origins of cool as a form of resistance, its intersection with capitalism, changes in work attitudes, and the impact of social media on perceptions of coolness.

How do mainstream politicians and pundits contribute to the normalisation of far-right ideas, even as they claim to reject racism and populism? That’s one of many vital questions asked by Aaron Winter and Aurelien Mondon in their book, Reactionary Democracy. Following ACFM’s recent Trip about Fascism, Keir and Jem speak to Aaron and Aurelien about […]

A lot of people are saying that fascism is on the rise. But what are we pointing to when we call a system, or a person, fascist? On this Trip, Nadia, Keir and Jem map out a complicated ideology, from its roots in 19th century industrialisation to its resurgence in ethnonationalism and eco-apartheid. Exploring how […]

From fecal transplants to the yoghurt-industrial complex, we’ve never been more absorbed in the workings of our gut. But can we trust it? Nadia, Jem and Keir investigate the mysterious connections between mind and body, reason and instinct. How did capitalism separate our minds from our bodies? Is a belief in intuition filling the gap […]

Last time on ACFM, the gang explored the impact of UFOs on politics, from deep-state conspiracies to the Posadists. But to really understand how aliens influence our thought – and what our belief in E.T. says about ourselves – we have to go to the movies. In this Microdose, Keir, Jem and Nadia sweep through a […]

The podcast explores the impact of UFOs on political thought, discussing connections to right-wing ideologies, communist beliefs in world revolution brought by aliens, and Fermi's paradox. The hosts share music from Blink 182, Sun Ra, and The Carpenters while delving into UFO believer communities, psychological manipulation, and the intersection of UFO beliefs with far-right ideologies.

Music has the uncanny power to stir up big feelings, which makes it an obvious vehicle for political statements of hope, anger, despair, or how to cast your vote. In this Microdose episode to accompany ACFM’s recent Trip on Protest, Jem takes us through 60 years of plugged-in protest music – no strumming folkies or […]