Oats for Breakfast

Are immigrants to blame for the housing crisis? w/ James Hardwick

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

In this episode, we tackle the housing crisis with James Hardwick, a seasoned activist with over a decade of experience supporting adults facing poverty and houselessness.

Drawing on his insightful series of articles for Canadian Dimension, we explore some pressing questions in the housing debate. Can immigration be blamed for rising housing costs? Will building more homes solve the crisis? What approaches should be taken to address homelessness?

You can find James' articles on housing here: https://canadiandimension.com/articles/author/james-hardwick

Have thoughts about the show? You can write to oatsforbreakfastpod [at] gmail [dot] com.

Music: "Home Sweet Home" by Willbe.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Norman Finkelstein: 'The Rise and Fall of Palestine'

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 17:03:44 -0000

Episode Notes

Norman Finkelstein is a political scientist whose work focuses on the Israel-Palestine conflict. He is the author of numerous books, including Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict and Gaza: An Inquest into its Martyrdom.

This conversation is largely about one of Professor Finkelstein’s first books: The Rise and Fall of Palestine. Published almost two decades ago, the book is based on the time Finkelstein spent in the West Bank, while the first intifada was underway.

We talked about Rise and Fall and about how the book's contents relate to what’s happening in Gaza today. Our conversation also touched on the US election results and what they might mean for Gaza and the wider region.

Have thoughts about the show? You can write to oatsforbreakfastpod [at] gmail [dot] com.

Music: "Home Sweet Home" by Willbe.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Trump's Unholy Alliance w/ Paul Jay

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 11:00:47 -0000

Episode Notes

This episode of Oats for Breakfast features an interview with journalist and filmmaker Paul Jay about a recent essay he wrote titled, "Trump’s Unholy Alliance: Risking the Apocalypse for Dollars.” The essay looks at the two major poles of support that Trump’s current run for the presidency has based on: Silicon Valley tech billionaires on the one hand and Christian nationalists on the other.

During the podcast interview, Paul discusses why a second Trump term would be qualitative different and, more dangerous, than previous Republican presidencies, including Trump’s first term in office. We also talk about what it might take, over the long term, to beat back the advances that the far-right has been making in the US and Canada.

Find more from Paul Jay here: https://theanalysis.news/

If you'd like to get in touch with us, you can email oatsforbreakfastpod [at] gmail [dot] com

Music: "Home Sweet Home" by Willbe.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

'Nuclear is Not the Solution' w/ M.V. Ramana

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 11:00:16 -0000

Episode Notes

This episode features an interview with M.V. Ramana about his book Nuclear is Not the Solution: The Folly of Atomic Power in the Age of Climate Change (Verso 2024). Professor Ramana delves into the common misconception that nuclear energy is a viable fix for the climate crisis, explaining why it's neither cost-effective, timely, nor safe. With renewable sources like solar and wind now economically competitive, he argues that nuclear energy's risks and delays are unnecessary distractions from real climate solutions.

If you'd like to get in touch with us, you can email oatsforbreakfastpod [at] gmail [dot] com

Music: "Home Sweet Home" by Willbe.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Jim Crow and its afterlives w/ Adolph Reed Jr.

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

Oats chats with political scientist Adolph Reed Jr. about his 2022 book The South: Jim Crow and Its Afterlives. The discussion features personal reflections from Adolph Reed about what everyday life was like during the Jim Crow era. We also talk about the concepts of "race" and "race relations", as they are understood today, are a the product of that era; about how Jim Crow gets unhelpfully analogized with reference to the modern-day prison system; and a few other related things.

Have thoughts about the show? Share them by writing to oatsforbreakfastpod [at] gmail [dot] com.

Music: "Home Sweet Home" by Willbe.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Remembering Noam Chomsky

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

In this episode, we reflect on the work and ideas of Noam Chomsky, the esteemed linguist and public intellectual, who recently suffered a stroke which has rendered him unable to participate in public discourse. Chomsky has been a beacon of inspiration and insight for many on the Left for decades, and his absence is being deeply felt.

We delve into some of Chomsky's core ideas — exploring his incisive critique of US foreign policy, his staunch defence of free expression, and the political philosophies that shaped his thought, from anarchism to Zionism. A fair number of biographical details also come up throughout the discussion, offering a look at the man behind the ideas.

Have thoughts about this episode? Share them with us by writing to oatsforbreakfastpod [at] gmail [dot] com.

Music: "Home Sweet Home" by Willbe.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

The view from Israel w/ Anaïs Elboujdaini

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 09:00:06 -0000

Episode Notes

After a three-year hiatus, Oats for Breakfast is making a comeback.

In this return episode, we chat with Montreal-based journalist Anaïs Elboujdaini about her experience of being in Israel on October 7, 2023—the day of the Hamas attack. We also discuss the reporting she has been doing on Gaza since that time.

Support Anaïs and read the stories mentioned in the episode here: https://linktr.ee/anaiselboujdaini

Follow Anaïs on Instagram so you can keep up with her work: https://www.instagram.com/anais.reporter

If you'd like to get in touch with us, you can email oatsforbreakfastpod [at] gmail [dot] com

Music: "Home Sweet Home" by Willbe.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode 66: India's COVID catastrophe

Mon, 10 May 2021 10:00:00 -0000

In collaboration with Jamhoor, Oats for Breakfast hosts a discussion on the ongoing public health catastrophe in India.

Those interested in supporting relief efforts in India can find a list of organizations and people looking for donations here: https://mutualaidindia.com/

Episode 65: The failed Amazon organizing drive w/ Adam King

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Oats chats with post-doctoral fellow Adam King about the failed attempt to organize an Amazon fulfillment centre in Bessemer, Alabama. You can read the piece that our discussion is based on here: https://readpassage.com/p/what-the-failed-amazon-union-drive-means-for-labour-everywhere/ Notes go here

Episode 64: The Indian farmers' protest

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 10:00:00 -0000

We chat with Professor Navyug Gill about the ongoing farmers' protest in India. The discussion touches on:

the intent of the Indian government to further neoliberalize and corporatize the farming sector
the scale of the protest and the farmers' demands
the nature of the BJP and its broader agenda
reforms that would actually benefit farmers and agriculture in India
and lots more.

This episode of Oats for Breakfast was produced in collaboration with Jamhoor (https://www.jamhoor.org/), a Toronto-based media organization that amplifies marginalized and progressive voices from South Asia.

Access the episode transcript here: https://oatspodcast.com/podcast/episode-64-the-indian-farmers-protest/

Episode 63: Challenging the Right, Augmenting the Left w/ Julian von Bargen

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 11:00:00 -0000

Oats chats with Julian von Bargen about a book he recently co-edited, 'Challenging the Right, Augmenting the Left: Recasting Leftist Imagination.' We dig into the book's treatment of the environmental crisis, political parties and movements, as well as about the history of civil liberties and the free speech debate.

Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 62: Housing injustice in Toronto w/ Brendan Jowett

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 11:00:00 -0000

Oats chats about housing injustice in Toronto with Brendan Jowett, a tenant lawyer who has fought to prevent the clearance of homeless encampments in city parks during the pandemic. We discuss Toronto's deepening housing crisis, the rent strike movement, and what people can do to get involved in fighting against housing injustice.

Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 61: Primary Obsessions w/ Charlie Demers

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0000

We chat with author and activist Charlie Demers about Primary Obsessions, a novel about a psychologist who helps people overcome mental health problems by day and tries to solve a murder mystery by night. You can grab a copy of Primary Obsessions from wherever you get your books.

Subscribe to Charlie's latest essays and podcast here: https://charliedemers.substack.com/

Charlie will be giving a talk on March 3 about Comedy, Free Expression, & Social Justice. Check it out here: https://cfe.ryerson.ca/events/comedy-free-expression-social-justice

Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: https://patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 60: Stakeholder capitalism against democracy w/ Kyle Bailey

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0000

Oats chats with Kyle Bailey about the limits of stakeholder capitalism, corporate citizenship, and corporate social responsibility. The discussion is based on a journal article Kyle wrote, which can be accessed here: https://www.ppesydney.net/issue-86-summer-2020-2021/

Episode 59b: The urban agriculture movement

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 21:14:00 -0000

We follow up our broad discussion about agriculture by zooming in on the local urban agriculture movement -- we chat about its positive aspects as well as its limits.

Learn more about the Black Creek Community Farm here: https://www.blackcreekfarm.ca/

Episode 59a: Agriculture, technology, and tradition

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 18:14:00 -0000

Episode Notes

Oats chats about the problems within the modern-day food system, whether technological achievements like GMOs are a good thing, and about the limits of traditional agricultural societies.

Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 58: Racism and inequality w/ Adolph Reed Jr.

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 11:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

This episode of Oats for Breakfast features a discussion with Adolph Reed Jr. that was organized and live-streamed by Ryerson University's Centre for Free Expression. You can access the full video version of the discussion on the CFE's website: https://cfe.ryerson.ca/key-resources/podcasts/anti-black-racism-and-inequality-what-be-done

Support Oats for Breakfast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Announcement: November break

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 12:00:00 -0000

Oats for Breakfast will be on hiatus for the month of November. We'll be back again in December.

The Patreon billing has been paused so patrons won't be charged this month.

Bonus: The Harbinger Media Network w/ Andre Goulet

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 11:00:00 -0000

Oats for Breakfast chats with podcaster Andre Goulet about the recently-launched Harbinger Media Network, an initiative that's bringing together left-wing content creators from around the country.

Find out more about Harbinger here: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/

Episode 57: Defending the Common Good w/ Lisa Kowalchuk

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 11:00:00 -0000

Oats interviews sociologist Lisa Kowalchuk about 'We Resist: Defending the Common Good in Hostile Times', a volume she co-edited. We also chat about the working conditions of nurses in Central America and about St. James Town Storeys, a Toronto-based podcast that Lisa co-hosts.

'We Resist': https://www.mqup.ca/we-resist-products-9780228001423.php

St. James Town Storeys: https://stjamestownstoreys.com/

Episode 56: 'Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism'

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 11:00:00 -0000

Oats for Breakfast sits down to chat about Kirsten Ghodsee's 2018 book 'Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence.' The discussion explores the nature of gender and sexual relations in the Eastern Bloc countries—the upsides and the downsides—while also considering how socialists should orient themselves to gender/sex issues in the present-day West.

Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 55: 'Capitalist Pigs: Pigs, Pork, and Power in America' w/ Joseph Anderson

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 11:00:00 -0000

Oats for Breakfast chats with Joseph Anderson about his recent book, 'Capitalist Pigs: Pigs, Pork, and Power in America.' The book surveys the role that swine played in the making of American capitalism, from the colonial period to the present. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://wvupressonline.com/node/780

Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Bonus episode: Memes, anthropology, and podcasting w/ Deathnography

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 10:00:00 -0000

On this bonus episode of the podcast Oats sits down with Henry, a left-wing content creator known as Deathnography. We chat about memes, podcasting, music, and anthropology.

Episode 54: Contesting the Green Party leadership election w/ Meryam Haddad

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Oats for Breakfast interviews Meryam Haddad, a socialist candidate in the Green Party of Canada's leadership race. We chat about Meryam's platform, why she calls herself a socialist, how she intends to win over voters to the Green Party, and more.

Find our more about Meryam's candidacy on her campaign website: https://www.meryam2020.ca

Support Oats for Breakfast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 53: Life and politics in Brazil w/ Rhaysa Ruas

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Oats for Breakfast chats with Rio de Janeiro-based human rights lawyer Rhaysa Ruas about social and political circumstances in Brazil. The wide-ranging discussion touches on the COVID-19 crisis, the rise and fall of the Workers' Party, as well as the destruction of the Amazon forest and indigenous communities that inhabit it.

Support the Oats for Breakfast by becoming a monthly patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 52: The Cult of Smart w/ Freddie deBoer

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Oats interviews Freddie deBoer about his book, "The Cult of Smart: How Our Broken Education System Perpetuates Social Injustice." In the book Freddie argues that, to the extent that educational outcomes are the result of inherent differences between individuals, a system that distributes rewards based on educational outcomes should be regarded as unfair.

Find out how you can get a copy of "The Cult of Smart" on Freddie's website: https://fredrikdeboer.com/

Help us make the Oats podcast by becoming a monthly supporter: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 51: Socialism in Trump country w/ Yana Ludwig

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Oats for Breakfast chats with Yana Ludwig, a socialist running for office in one of the most conservative states in the US. Yana is a candidate in Wyoming's Democratic Party Senate primary, set to take place on August 18th. We chat about her platform, about how her campaign is trying to win over workers in the coal industry, and more!

Yana's campaign website: https://www.yana4wyo.com/

Support the Oats for Breakfast podcast: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 50: Contesting the Green Party leadership election w/ Dimitri Lascaris

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Oats chats with Dimitri Lascaris about his candidacy in the Green Party's leadership race. Dimitri tells us about how he became a socialist, the need to abolish billionaires, the impact that COVID-19 has had in long-term care facilities in Quebec and Ontario, his hopes for advancing a progressive agenda that can grow the Green Party, Canada's failed bid to win a UN Security Council seat, and a lot more.

Find out more about Dimitri's candidacy by going to his campaign website: https://www.teamdimitri.ca/

Become a supporter of the Oats for Breakfast podcast: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 49: The George Floyd protests, policing, and anti-racism

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Oats for Breakfast chats about the recent wave of protests that were sparked by George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis. We get into a critical discussion about the potential impacts of the protests on the upcoming US election, the merits of defunding the police, whether racism explains patterns in policing, as well as about the way anti-racism is promoted.

Episode 48: Reassessing COVID-19 and China's response

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Oats first hosted a discussion about COVID-19 on episode 40 (which was published on February 10, 2020), well before the pandemic attained global proportions. In this episode we go back to review what we thought about the disease back then and offer a reassessment. We also chat about China's relatively successful efforts in dealing with its outbreak and try to come to terms with why Canada and especially the US are faring comparatively worse.

Oats for Breakfast relies on listener support to sustain itself. You can support us by becoming a patron: www.patreon.com/OatsForBreakfast

Episode 47: Travel & testing in the time of corona

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 09:00:00 -0000

We return from our month long hiatus to chat about our experience of travelling back to Canada and (after developing some symptoms) our efforts to try to get tested for COVID-19. Everything worked out OK for us in the end, but our experience suggests that the response to the COVID-19 crisis is not being managed particularly well in Canada.

Oats for Breakfast relies on listener support to sustain itself. You can support us by becoming a patron: www.patreon.com/OatsForBreakfast

Announcement: Taking a break during May

Tue, 05 May 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Oats will be on hiatus during May. A couple of us need to travel back to Canada and managing the logistics of that are going to make it difficult to continue publishing podcast content.

Since we won't be publishing content and therefore won't have our usual costs this month, Patreon billing was paused.

We hope to see you all again in June!

Episode 46b: COVID-19 - The view from the Global South

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0000

We continue the discussion we were having last time about the way the COVID-19 crisis is playing out in the Global South. We chat about preachers who want to protray the virus as a form of divine punishment, the rise of domestic abuse, as well as the economic depravation and hunger resulting from the crisis.

Oats for Breakfast relies on listener support to sustain itself. You can support us by becoming a patron of the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 46a: COVID-19 - The view from the Global South

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode we chat a bit about the experience we've had with the COVID-19 crisis while being in the Global South before getting into a broader discussion of the social and political developments that are taking place in our surroundings. We take up the issues of policing, the strife of daily wage earners, minority scapegoating, and more. The outlook for much of the Global South is not good but we also point to the case of Kerala, where an effective lockdown and provisioning strategy has allowed the spread of the virus to be contained.

Oats for Breakfast relies on listener support to sustain itself. You can support us becoming a patron of the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 45: Building a rent strike movement w/ Dru Oja Jay & Sam Hersh

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Oats chats with Dru Oja Jay and Sam Hersh about the ongoing efforts to organize rent strikes across Canada. We talk about the impact the COVID-19 crisis has had on renters, the desperation that's leading many to forgo paying rent, the kind of coalition-building that will be required if a rent strike movement is to win needed political victories, and more. Check out CancelRent.ca if you'd like to find ways to get involved in rent strike organizing.

Oats relies on listener support to sustain itself. You can help support us by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 44b: Life and politics in South Asia

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0000

In the second part of our collaborative discussion with Jamhoor.org, we chat about some of the protest movements currently active in India and Pakistan, including the anti-war Pashtun Tahafuz Movement and the Shaheen Bagh protests. We also talk about the repression in Kashmir, and about how inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflict can help to undermine the class struggle in South Asia.

Episode 44a: Life and politics in South Asia

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Oats for Breakfast, in collaboration with Jamhoor.org, hosts a discussion about South Asia. We chat about Hindutva and the closing off of space for dissent in India, some of the seemingly-parallel trends currently underway in Pakistan, the contradictions of minority nationalism, as well as a whole lot else.

Oats relies on listener support to sustain itself. Support us by becoming a monthly patron: https://www.patreon.com/oatsforbreakfast

Episode 42b: Jagmeet Singh's vacuousness

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Oats continues the dicussion about Jagmeet Singh's 'Love & Courage.' In this segment, while digging deeper into Singh's book, we try to take stock of his recent condemnation of the pro-Palestine movement, we compare him with Bernie Sanders, and chat about the challenges involved in pushing the NDP to the Left.

Episode 42a: Jagmeet Singh's vacuousness

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Oats hosts a critical discussion about Jagmeet Singh's book, 'Love & Courage: My Story of Family, Resilience, and Overcoming the Unexpected.' (We're not trying to mean — we promise! We're just trying to understand why it is that the NDP remains committed to centrism, even while the electoral Left in the US and elsewhere is going through a resurgence.)

Episode 41: Indigenous sovereignty, pipelines, and resource development w/ Charlie Demers

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Oats chats with Vancouver-based writer, activist, and comedian Charlie Demers about indigenous sovereignty, pipeline resistance, and the contradictions of resource of development.

Episode 40b: The coronavirus outbreak, conspiracy theories, and anti-Chinese sentiment

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 10:00:00 -0000

The second part of our discussion about the coronavirus outbreak. This time we chat about some of the conspiracy theories that are spreading about the virus as well as about the rise of anti-Chinese sentiment — and we try to think through what the best way for leftists to respond to conspiracy theories and xenophobia.

Episode 40a: The coronavirus outbreak and the nature of the Chinese state

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 10:00:00 -0000

We sit down to chat about the coronavirus outbreak, its social and cultural implications, and we use the opportunity to highlight some aspects of the Chinese state — especially the capacity of the central state to retain legitimacy even when Chinese citizens lose trust in local and regional layers of the state.

The personal account (of a woman from Wuhan) that we reference during the episode can be accessed here: https://www.reddit.com/r/China_Flu/comments/evjzso/my_mom_passed_away_in_an_isolated_ward_in_wuhan_a/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

Episode 39b: HBO's 'Watchmen' and the mainstreaming of anti-racism

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 10:00:00 -0000

We continue our discussion about HBO's 'Watchmen.' This time we get into chatting reparations, particularist and universalist policy measures, as well as the tendency of liberal storytellers to seek individualist solutions to social problems.

Episode 39a: HBO's 'Watchmen' and the mainstreaming of anti-racism

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Oats hosts a discussion on HBO's 'Watchmen,' a superhero drama series that deals with issues of race and racism in the present-day United States.

Episode 38c: Islam - Identities, Belonging, Phobias

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 10:00:00 -0000

The last instalment in our series on Islam and Muslims. We chat about the Arab Gulf, terrorism, and whether Muslims would benefit from socialist universalism.

Episode 38b: Islam - Identities, Belonging, Phobias

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 10:00:06 -0000

The second part of our series on Islam and Muslims. We continue chatting about and developing the themes we started discussing last week.

Episode 38a: Islam - Identities, Belonging, Phobias

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 10:00:03 -0000

We kick off the new year with a three-part series on Islam and Muslims. Over the course of the series, Muslim contributors to Oats for Breakfast will take part in discussions about their relationship to Islam as well as about the developments that have flowed out of the Muslim world's experience with capitalist modernity.

Episode 37b: Life and Politics in South Africa w/ Michael Smith and Claire-Anne Lester

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 10:00:33 -0000

We continue chatting with Michael Smith and Claire-Anne Lester. This time the discussion looks at the range of the political spectrum in South Africa, the student and labour movements, as well as the 2012 Marikana Massacre and what it tells us about the nature of the post-Apartheid state.

Episode 37a: Life and Politics in South Africa w/ Michael Smith and Claire-Anne Lester

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 10:00:23 -0000

Oats chats with Michael Smith and Claire-Anne Lester about South Africa. Our discussion touches on Nelson Mandela's legacy, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as well as how the South African left has approached questions about race, identity, and belonging.

Episode 36: Martin Scorsese's 'The Irishman' and the corruptions of capitalist society

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 10:01:03 -0000

Oats chats about Martin Scorsese's 'The Irishman' as well as the book that the film is based on, Charles Brandt's 'I Heard You Paint Houses.' Our discussion explores the interface between the labour movement, the state, and organized crime in post-War American capitalism.

Unlocked: Patreon-exclusive segment on Wexit and western alienation

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 10:00:33 -0000

We continue our discussion about Wexit and Western Alienation. This time we also get into chatting a bit about Quebec (and the role that regionalist politics has played there), the failed attempts to push for electoral reform in British Columbia, as well as about Jason Kenney's "energy war room."

Episode 35: Wexit, western alienation, and oil culture

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 10:00:13 -0000

Oats sits down to comment on all the recent hubbub about 'Wexit.' Our discussion goes into the roots of Western Alienation and the kind of political culture that reliance on oil extraction seems to create.

Unlocked: Patreon-exclusive segment on Bong Joon-Ho's 'Parasite'

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 10:00:03 -0000

We continue chatting about Bong Joon-Ho's 'Parasite' and the travails of working class life. This time we get into discussing the gender dynamics portrayed in the film, how the attempts by the poor to plan their lives is dealt with, and about how 'Parasite' brilliantly captures the bleak reality of life under modern capitalism.

Episode 34: Bong Joon-Ho's 'Parasite' and the travails of working class life

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 10:00:33 -0000

Oats for Breakfast sits down to chat about 'Parasite,' a widely-acclaimed black comedy written and directed by the Korean film-maker Bong Joon-Ho. The film offers a superb depiction of how the struggle for survival under capitalism pits the poor against each other.

Unlocked: Patreon-exclusive segment w/ Justin Podur

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 10:00:14 -0000

We continue the discussion we were having with Justin Podur, author of 'Siegebreakers'. In this segment, we chat about what the process of writing the novel was like, class divisions among Palestinians, and whether leftist fiction-writing can make a comeback.

Episode 33: 'Siegebreakers: A Novel' w/ Justin Podur

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 10:00:12 -0000

A novel that seamlessly combines thrilling action sequences, political intrigue, and moving character development, 'Siegebreakers' imagines what it might take to break the Gaza siege. Oats interviews the author, Justin Podur, about why he decided to write the novel, how he went about framing the story he wanted to tell, as well as about the real-life situation and dynamics currently being faced by the people of Gaza.

Episode 32: Post-election roundup w/ Martin Lukacs

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 09:00:12 -0000

Oats catches up with Martin Lukacs, author of 'The Trudeau Formula,' to chat about the political landscape in post-election Canada.

Unlocked: Patreon-exclusive segment w/ Monica Mason and Mayuran Sivalinghem

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 09:00:22 -0000

Oats continues chatting with Monica Mason and Mayuran Sivalinghem. This time the discussion goes into the role rich countries should play in assisting the Global South deal with climate change. We then get into chatting about how the internet and social media can be used to promote Left politics.

Episode 31: The Climate Strike in Toronto w/ Monica Mason and Mayuran Sivalinghem

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 09:00:26 -0000

Oats chats with Monica Mason and Mayuran Sivalinghem, both members of Climate Justice Toronto—CJTO helped organize (along with a number of other groups) the climate strike that took place in Toronto on September 27. We talk about how the climate strike went, about Greta Thunberg, while also working through some disagreement about whether the environment should be seen as a "political" issue.

Episode 30: The Trudeau Formula w/ Martin Lukacs

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 10:00:24 -0000

Oats interviews Martin Lukacs about his recent book, The Trudeau Formula: Seduction and Betrayal in an Age of Discontent. The discussion goes over the unrivalled capacity of Canada's Liberal Party to maintain hegemony, the way in which Trudeau was able to pose as a progressive while catering to the needs of Canadian elites, as well as the recent blackface revelations. Order a copy of Martin's book here: http://www.trudeauformula.com/

Unlocked: Patreon-exclusive segment on UAW strike w/ Sam Gindin

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 10:00:44 -0000

Oats for Breakfast continues the discussion with Sam Gindin about the ongoing United Auto Workers-GM strike in the US. This time around we broaden the discussion to include trade policy, the role of the state in industrial disputes, and about the fate of GM's vehicle assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario.

Episode 29: The United Auto Workers Strike w/ Sam Gindin

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 10:00:35 -0000

Oats for Breakfast interviews Sam Gindin about the United Auto Workers-GM strike, which involves 49,000 workers. We talk about what's at stake for the strikers, the corruption charges that are being brought against the UAW's leadership, and about the kind of approach unions will have to take if they really hope to build working class power.

Episode 28: Oats for Breakfast highlights

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 08:00:35 -0000

This episode features highlights from content that we've published over the course of the last year—including excerpts from our interview with Adolph Reed, our first attempt at engaging in cultural critique, and our discussion about the Zizek-Peterson debate.

Episode 27: Should GM Oshawa be publicly owned? w/ Tony Leah and Rebecca Keetch

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 10:00:26 -0000

The Oats podcast interviews Tony Leah and Rebecca Keetch about GM's decision to wind down vehicle assembly at its facility in Oshawa, Ontario. Tony and Rebecca work at GM Oshawa. They are also both members of Green Jobs Oshawa, an initiative calling for GM's facility to come under public ownership and be directed towards producing electric vehicles. Learn more about Green Jobs Oshawa here: http://www.greenjobsoshawa.ca/

Unlocked: Patreon-exclusive segment on Western Canada

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 10:00:45 -0000

Our discussion about life and politics in Western Canada continues. We talk more about indigenous-settler relations and get into chatting about the oil sands, forest fires, and about whether there's hope for turning the tide.

Episode 26: Life and politics in Western Canada

Fri, 30 Aug 2019 10:00:26 -0000

Oats for Breakfast sits down to discuss life and politics in Western Canada. We get into talking about Alberta's premier Jason Kenney, what public education is like in Alberta and British Columbia, and about indigenous-settler relations in the two provinces.

Unlocked: Patreon-exclusive segment on labour standards w/ Adam King

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 11:00:36 -0000

We continue our discussion about labour standards with sociologist Adam King. This time we get into talking about what it's like to be a temporary employee and also compare labour standards in Canada with standards elsewhere, including Sweden and Australia.

Episode 25: Labour standards in the US and Canada

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 11:00:06 -0000

Oats for Breakfast chats with sociologist Adam King about labour standards. Adam recently wrote an article "assessing what a Sanders presidency would mean for labour." We talk to him about the article and about labour policy in the US and Canada more broadly. Adam's article: http://theconversation.com/on-may-day-assessing-what-a-sanders-presidency-would-mean-for-labour-116133

Unlocked: Patreon-exclusive segment on public transit w/ Benjamin Bilgen

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 11:00:15 -0000

We continue talking with the Toronto-based independent journalist Benjamin Bilgen about public transit. In this segment we compare our experiences using transit in Toronto with transit systems elsewhere. Our discussion travels to cities across the planet—including Antalya (Turkey), Islamabad (Pakistan), London (UK), as well as Montreal and Vancouver. In the latter part of the segment we chat about the ways in which transit intersects with the homelessness crisis.

Episode 24: Policing public transit in Toronto w/ Benjamin Bilgen

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 11:00:25 -0000

The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) recently unveiled an ad campaign that uses images captured by security cameras to publicly shame those trying to avoid paying the fare. We talk to the independent journalist Benjamin Bilgen about how the campaign violates the TTC's own video recording policy. Plus we get into chatting about transit enforcement more generally. Articles by Benjamin that are referenced in the episode: 1: http://everydayzine.com/jane-station-the-politics-of-surveillance-and-transit-design/ 2: http://everydayzine.com/ttc-fare-evasion-ad-campaign-violates-its-own-video-recording-policy/

Episode 23: Organizing Toronto's Foodora Couriers w/ Brice Sopher

Fri, 26 Jul 2019 11:00:05 -0000

Food delivery couriers working for the app-based company Foodora recently launched a union organizing drive in Toronto. We talk to Brice Sopher, who works as a Foodora courier, about the effort. Check out the Justice for Foodora Couriers website: http://foodstersunited.ca

Unlocked: Patreon-exclusive segment on HBO's Chernobyl

Fri, 19 Jul 2019 11:00:14 -0000

We continue our discussion of the HBO miniseries Chernobyl. In this segment, disagreements arise over whether the series offers a critique of Trumpian populism as well about the nature and limits of liberal-democratic judicial regimes.

Episode 22: HBO's Chernobyl and the limits of the liberal imagination

Fri, 12 Jul 2019 11:00:24 -0000

Oats takes up the takes up the recent HBO miniseries Chernobyl. We talk about the political commentary the series is trying to offer, the fact that historical inaccuracies were a major part of telling a story whose ostensible purpose was to highlight the importance of the truth, and why liberal centrism is not necessarily an objective standpoint from which to look at the world.

Unlocked: Patreon-exclusive segment on building socialism in Canada

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 11:00:20 -0000

Sadia Khan, Corvin Russell, and Sharmeen Khan continue their discussion on how we can work to build socialism in Canada. They talk about the role of disruptive tactics, the logistics of organizing something on the scale of a general strike, and the need to assess whether the work we're doing is having any impact.

Episode 21: How do we build socialism in Canada?

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 11:00:04 -0000

Sadia Khan, Corvin Russell, and Sharmeen Khan have a discussion based on the following question: “How do we work to build socialism?” The discussion touches on the challenges posed by electoralism, the changing nature of the working class, the importance of labour and community organizing, and what it might take to build an enduring socialist organization.

Episode 20: The US Strike Wave, the DSA, and Transforming the State w/ Eric Blanc

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 10:59:59 -0000

Eric Blanc is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Oats talked with Eric about his recent book, "Red State Revolt: The Teachers’ Strike Wave and Working-Class Politics" (Verso: 2019). Our discussion connected the teachers' strikes with the broader socialist upsurge in the US and the long term struggle to transform the capitalist state. The following Jacobin article by Eric is referenced during the discussion: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/04/karl-kautsky-democratic-socialism-elections-rupture

Unlocked: Patreon-exclusive segment on Wikileaks, Data Activism, and Information Freedom

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 11:00:05 -0000

We continue our discussion with Julian von Bargen on the contradictions of hacktivism. We get into talking about the efforts that have been taken by state and corporate actors to try to deligitimize Wikileaks, the important contributions that Assange and others like him have made, and how hackers who may at first be "in it for the lulz [laughs]" can find themselves becoming politicized.

Episode 18: Wikileaks, Data Activism, and Information Freedom w/ Julian von Bargen

Fri, 31 May 2019 11:00:27 -0000

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is under arrest in the UK and facing possible extradition to the US. We talk to data scientist and PhD candidate Julian von Bargen about the saga of Wikileaks, the ethics of public interest leaking, and the pitfalls of data activism.

Episode 17: Stop The Attacks On Our Schools!

Wed, 22 May 2019 11:00:27 -0000

Ontario's provincial government has announced sweeping cuts to funding for public education. People across the province are mobilizing to stop the attacks on our schools. The Socialist Project's Action Keele campaign recently hosted a community meeting that brought together students, teachers, parents, and school support staff to talk about how we might organize a response to the cuts. This Oats episode is based on the discussion that took place at that meeting. It features comments that were made at the meeting by the following people: - Jessica Polley (high school teacher in the Toronto District School Board) - Jonah Gindin (organizer with the West End Parents for Public Education) - Helen Victoros (executive member of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto) - Amina Vance (organizer with Students Say No) - John Weatherup (president of CUPE 4400) Article mentioned in the episode: (http://tiny.cc/uam36y) -Greg Albo, “Democratic Citizenship and the Future of Public Management,” in G. Albo, D. Langille and L. Panitch, eds., A Different Kind of State? Popular Power and Democratic Administration (Toronto: Oxford University Press 1993). If you're looking to get involved in the struggle against the cuts, you might be interested in joining the school "walk-ins" planned for June 6th. More information available here: https://linktr.ee/schoolwalkins

Unlocked: Patreon-exclusive segment on Zizek/Peterson debate

Sun, 05 May 2019 12:01:36 -0000

We continue our discussion about the Zizek/Peterson debate. This time, we talk about the reactions that others have had to the debate and also discuss what we would've liked to see in the debate.

Episode 15: The Zizek/Peterson Debate

Thu, 02 May 2019 12:00:19 -0000

Slavoj Zizek and Jordan Peterson recently debated in Toronto. Oats sits down to discuss what was supposed to be "the debate of the century."

Episode 13: The impacts of austerity in Greece w/ Ilias Gerakos

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 12:00:14 -0000

Oats talks to Ilias Gerakos, a teacher and activist from the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, about the impact that years of austerity have had on the country.

Unlocked: Extended Interview w/ Adolph Reed Jr.

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 12:00:32 -0000

We continue our discussion about race and class with Adolph Reed Jr.

Episode 12: Race, Class, and the Left w/ Adolph Reed Jr.

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 18:25:24 -0000

Oats for Breakfast talks to Adolph Reed Jr. about race and class. We begin the interview with a discussion about the legacies (and baggage) of the Black Power period. We then move into discussing the pitfalls of race-reductionist approaches to engaging with the present political moment.

Episode 11: The Left and the US Democratic Party w/ Adam Hilton

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 14:00:06 -0000

Bernie Sanders has recently announced his second bid for the Democratic Party Presidential nomination in 2020. What does it mean for a self-proclaimed democratic socialist to enter the mainstream of US politics and attempt to transform one of the two business-dominated parties that control the US political landscape? How did past efforts to transform the Democratic Party fare? What are the strategic stakes for the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) in backing the Sanders campaign? Adam Hilton is one of the leading historians of past efforts of the American left to transform the Democratic Party. Our conversation with Hilton probes some of the openings and obstacles for the left in engaging the terrain of the Democratic Party to advance a progressive agenda and embed a socialist movement in American politics. To learn more, check out some of Adam Hilton's articles: jacobinmag.com/2016/02/bernie-sanders-new-politics-democratic-party-realignment-primary jacobinmag.com/2018/09/dnc-unity-commission-superdelegates

Episode 10: Freedom of Speech in Capitalism w/ Samir Gandesha

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 02:44:12 -0000

What does a socialist conception of free speech look like? Can we really trust the capitalist state to protect the free speech rights of socialist critics? As free speech has become an increasingly explosive issue within our liberal societies, Oats chatted with Samir Gandesha of Simon Fraser University to get a better sense of what’s going on. Along the way we talk about the politics of free speech, the hypocrisy of the Right on this issue, and what a potential socialist alternative may look like. Articles referenced during the interview: In Defense of Free Speech: https://www.opendemocracy.net/samir-gandesha/in-defense-of-free-speech The lessons of the World Cup for our victim culture: https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/samir-gandesha/lessons-of-world-cup-for-our-victim-culture Not only the difference between identities but the differences within them: https://www.opendemocracy.net/samir-gandesha/not-only-difference-between-identities-but-differences-within-them Is symbolic politics an impediment to economic equality?https://www.opendemocracy.net/samir-gandesha/is-symbolic-politics-impediment-to-economic-equality

Unlocked: Extended interview w/ Tanner Mirrlees

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 13:00:24 -0000

We continue our discussion with Tanner Mirrlees. We talk about what the Munk Debates are, whether no-platforming is a justifiable tactic, as well as the lessons the Left might want to take to heart when considering the rise of the alt-right.

Episode 09: The alt-right and the Bannon-Frum debate w/ Tanner Mirrlees

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 13:00:24 -0000

Oats sat down with Tanner Mirrlees to chat about the rise of the "alt-right" as well as the recent debate between Steve Bannon and David Frum in Toronto.

Unlocked: Extended interview w/ Jordan House

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 17:00:28 -0000

This is a sneak peek of the extended segment of our interview with Jordan. We continue the conversation about the struggle for justice in the prison system.

Episode 08: The Struggle for Justice in Prisons w/ Jordan House

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 12:00:13 -0000

From 21 August and 9 September, prisoners across the US went on strike. One set of Canadian prisoners — at Burnside jail in Nova Scotia — decided to join the strike effort. We chat with Jordan House about the continent-wide prison strike. We also talk about who goes to prison (and who doesn't!), the history of prison-based resistance, and the political economy of prison labour. Burnside prisoners' statement: https://nsadvocate.org/2018/09/12/statement-by-burnside-prisoners-we-will-continue-to-speak-and-fight-until-no-more-lives-are-lost/ Jordan House's article: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/09/canada-prison-strike-burnside-jail-incarceration

Episode 07: The Toronto Overdose Prevention Society w/ Sarah Ovens

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 03:55:54 -0000

Canada is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic. In 2016 there were 3,005 opioid-related deaths in Canada. In 2017 the figure jumped to 3,996. The Canadian government's response has been inadequate, which has prompted a wave of activism. We talk to Sarah Ovens, a social worker and an organizer with the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society (TOPS), about why the opioid crisis is taking place and what her organization is doing to try to address it. You can make a donation to TOPS here: https://ca.gofundme.com/torontooverdosepreventionsociety

Episode 06: Free Public Transit w/ Herman Rosenfeld

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 12:00:39 -0000

Canadians consider healthcare to be a right — we don't think the amount of money people have should determine whether they can see a doctor. Is it possible to think of public transit as a public good? We talk to Herman Rosenfeld, a member of Free Transit Toronto, to explore the idea of free public transit.

Episode 05: Palestine Solidarity and Freedom of Speech w/ William Robinson

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 11:00:36 -0000

Expressing solidarity with Palestine and criticizing the state of Israel can be a challenge. To explore this challenge, we talk to William Robinson about his recent book "We Will Not be Silenced: The Academic Repression of Israel's Critics."

Unlocked: The sex ed controversy in Ontario w/ Sadia Khan

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 12:00:18 -0000

This extended interview builds on the discussion that took place in Episode 4. Toronto-based community organizer Sadia Khan reflects on her experience as a public-school teacher and activist to underline the importance of updating the sex-ed curriculum. She talks about why the recent sex ed curriculum reform has been so controversial, and what can be done to build support for a progressive sex-ed curriculum among parents.

Episode 04: Why did minorities vote for Doug Ford? w/ Sadia Khan

Mon, 13 Aug 2018 21:55:45 -0000

The Progressive Conservatives, led by Doug Ford, attracted a great deal of support from non-white voters during the recent provincial election in Ontario. Why would minorities support a hard-right politician? We talk to Toronto-based community organizer Sadia Khan to find out.

Episode 03: The Days of Action w/ Sam Gindin

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 13:13:02 -0000

When the Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris came to power in Ontario in 1995 and began implementing its agenda of cuts, the labour movement decided to organize a response. The response came in the form of the Days of Action—a series of rolling political strikes that involved hundreds of thousands of workers and community members across the province. We talk to labour activist Sam Gindin about how the Days of Action came to be organized, what their impact was, and the lessons they hold for us.

Episode 02: Ford's victory and the limits of the NDP w/ Sam Gindin

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 12:00:14 -0000

The victory of Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives in the Ontario provincial election appears to be part of a broader trend—the hard-right has been going from strength to strength around the world. We talk to the labour activist Sam Gindin about why it is now Ontario's turn to face off against the hard-right, and what can be done to challenge Ford's government. We also get into talking about the limits of the New Democratic Party.