Best Mutual Aid Works Podcasts (2025)

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154. Hannah Arendt and Civil Disobedience -- John McGowan 1:14:42

1h ago1:14:42

1:14:42

John McGowan joins the podcast again to discuss a recent republication of Hannah Arendt's essay "Civil Disobedience, which responds to Plato's Crito, Thoreau's "Resistance to Civil Government," and the leftwing mass movements of the 1960s. John and I discuss Arendt's importance as a theorist of revolution and totalitarianism, as well as the complex…

1
Hierarchy : An Anarchist Perspective 7:02

4d ago7:02

7:02

By Mutual Aid Works

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#675 Role of the Assistant Manager and Nonpartisan Leadership with Emily Colon 58:34

4d ago58:34

58:34

Emily Colon, former Deputy City Manager for the City of Lakeland, Florida, joined the podcast to talk about her career and two important management concepts. She recently wrote about the importance of nonpartisanship and she discussed how it can be a superpower for local government staff in an era of high polarization. She shared her approach for h…

1
Surveillance, Saviors, and Screens: Media & Adoption with J Way 57:54

5d ago57:54

57:54

In this episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, Zaira is joined by her editor, cinephile, and dear friend J Way. Together, they dive into how adoption narratives are portrayed in film and television, from tropes like the “grateful orphan” to more realistic depictions of systemic harm. J Way shares their experience as a transracial adoptee, the cultural…

1
153. Organizing in the 21st Century -- Jaz Brisack 37:59

7d ago37:59

37:59

Jaz Brisack joins me to discuss their new book, Get on the Job and Organize. Jaz and I discuss why billionaires take union organizing personally, how organizing is different in the 21st century, and how you can organize your workplace. Jaz might be coming to a town near you soon - here's the link to their book tour sites: https://www.simonandschust…

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Essay #102: Graham McGeoch, ‘Anarchism, Orthodoxy, and Latin America’ 19:27

10d ago19:27

19:27

In this essay, Graham McGeoch speaks about his research of Orthodox Christian influences on Anarchism in Latin America. A fuller version of the research was published in the edited volume, Orthodoxy and Anarchism: Contemporary Perspectives (ed Davor Dzalto, Rowman & Littlefield, 2024). Dr Graham McGeoch teaches Theology & Religious Studies at Facul…

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The Billionaire Elite 6:03

11d ago6:03

6:03

By Mutual Aid Works

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#674 Stand By Me, Emergency Mutual Aid in Malibu, CA with Joseph Toney and Alexis Brown 1:08:19

12d ago1:08:19

1:08:19

Two guests joined the podcast to talk about the response to the Palisades Fire. Joseph Toney is the Acting City Manager for Malibu and Alexis Brown is the Deputy City Manager for Malibu. They discussed how these fire emergencies have affected staff and the importance of mutual aide. They also shared tips for other agencies who may face fire or othe…

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Fascism Isn’t Coming — It’s Here. Now What? 1:08:45

14d ago1:08:45

1:08:45

“We're not just contending with right-wing movements. We're talking about movements that have reached one of their goals, which is to take over the government,” says organizer and grassroots strategist Ejeris Dixon. In this episode, Ejeris and Kelly discuss fascism, coalition building, and the compassion and shared knowledge we need to create safet…

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152. Why Billionaires Love AI -- Brian Merchant 1:05:51

14d ago1:05:51

1:05:51

Brian Merchant, author of the newsletter Blood in the Machine, returns to the show to talk about the newsletter, ai, tech oligarchs, the neoliberal "abundance" agenda, jobs, and pretty much everything else you want to know about the terrible, horrible, no good collusion between Trump, Tech billionaires, and ai. Fight the tech billionaires. Support …

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The Military : An Anarchist Perspective 6:56

18d ago6:56

6:56

By Mutual Aid Works

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#673 Managing Disruption in a Rapidly Changing World with Michael Welker, ncIMPACT 54:02

19d ago54:02

54:02

Michael Welker, Director of Policy and Research Partnerships for the ncIMPACT Initiative at the UNC School of Government joined the podcast to discuss managing change. He talked about a recent report they released on Managing Disruption in a Rapidly Changing World. He shared why managing disruption is so important, the elements they identified as c…

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Mutual Aid as Resistance: Building Systems of Care 20:41

20d ago20:41

20:41

In this solo episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, Zaira dives deep into the power and necessity of mutual aid. Drawing from personal reflection, historical examples like the Black Panther Party and the Young Lords, and global efforts from Sudan to Florida, this episode highlights how mutual aid has always been about survival. Zaira explores how mutu…

1
151. Graeber's Debt Chapter 12, The Beginning of Something Yet to Be Determined 1:17:53

21d ago1:17:53

1:17:53

In which I end my series on David Graeber's Debt, apologize for mistakes, and offer some hope for a new world in which we have more money and less monetarism. Thank you to all of the listeners to this series, and my wonderful lineup of guests: Dirk Ehnts, Eleanor Janega, Cory Doctorow, Bill Maurer, Henry Farrell, James K. Galbraith, Fuad Musallam, …

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Essay #101: Jesse Spafford, ‘The Anarchist Case Against Private Property’ 14:32

24d ago14:32

14:32

In this essay, Jesse Spafford argues that plausible libertarian premises support the classical anarchist conclusion that no one has any moral property rights over land or resources. Drawing on the argument advanced in Chapter 4 of his book Social Anarchism and the Rejection of Moral Tyranny, he contends that neither states nor would-be property own…

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Immigration and the Underlying Problem 10:36

25d ago10:36

10:36

By Mutual Aid Works

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#672 Reimagining Communities and Local Government Trends with Sheila Shockey and Grant Mayfield 53:21

27d ago53:21

53:21

Two guests joined the podcast to talk about trends in local government and futurology. Sheila Shockey is the Founder and CEO of Shockey Consulting Services. Grant Mayfield is a Public Administration Consultant for Shockey Consulting Services. They discussed their path to working with local government organizations and attracting people to the profe…

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Let's Be Politically Promiscuous 56:53

28d ago56:53

56:53

“Our movements are pretty much just made of our relationships — whether we can move together, coordinate, collaborate, figure out disagreements [and] stay loyal to each other when the repression comes down,” says Dean Spade. In this episode Dean and Kelly discuss the lessons of Dean's new book, Love in a F*cked-Up World: How to Build Relationships,…

1
150. Secret Mall Apartment -- Jeremy Workman and Michael Townsend 41:48

28d ago41:48

41:48

When capitalists developed their neighborhood with a giant mall, eight artists developed an abandoned space in the mall into an apartment. It was art without permission, and now there's a documentary about what it was like to make a secret mall apartment as a form of art. Jeremy Workman, the director of Secret Mall Apartment, and Michael Townsend, …

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The Judiciary : An Anarchist Perspective 10:24

1M ago10:24

10:24

By Mutual Aid Works

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#671 Inside the City Management Internship Experience with Emilia Krajewski, Diksha, and Sarah Nissen 57:36

1M ago57:36

57:36

Three civic starters joined the podcast to discuss their city management internships. Emilia Krajewski is a Management Intern for the City of Chandler, Arizona; Diksha is an Administrative Intern in Economic Development for the City of Saginaw, Texas; and Sarah Nissen is a City Management Intern for the City of Plymouth, Minnesota. They shared thei…

1
Adoptee Storytelling & Film Advocacy 59:44

1M ago59:44

59:44

Adoptee Storytelling & Film Advocacy In this episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, Zaira sits down with Alexandra, a British and American domestic transracial adoptee who grew up in her birth country of Hong Kong. Alexandra is the festival director of the Adoptee Film Fest, a global in-person and online film festival amplifying adoptee-centered films…

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149. Anarchy in the Big Easy -- Max Cafard and Vulpes 39:55

1M ago39:55

39:55

Max Cafard (which is a pen name) and Vulpes (which is also a pen name) join me to discuss their fantastic new graphic novel Anarchy in the Big Easy, which is just what it sounds like. Max and Vulpes and I discuss the cosmic anarchy, political anarchism, and everyday anarchy that's flowed through what is now called New Orleans for centuries and mill…

1
The Left : A Fake Alternative 4:10

1M ago4:10

4:10

By Mutual Aid Works

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#670 Innovation and Collaboration through the Sparks Program with Grace Hanne, Johnson County KS 41:56

1M ago41:56

41:56

Grace Hanne, an Innovation Principal Analyst for Johnson County, KS joined the podcast to discuss the County's Sparks Pilot Program, which is an effort to encourage collaboration and innovation across the organization. The program brings together employees from different areas of the County to work on transformative projects. She detailed what bene…

1
Root Work and Resilience: The Fight for Black Families 47:25

1M ago47:25

47:25

Root Work and Resilience: The Fight for Black Families In this episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, Zaira sits down with Tamara and Tracey Robertson, sisters, healers, and advocates serving as Healers in Residence with Movement for Family Power. Together, they discuss their journey of resisting the harms of the family policing system, while centerin…

1
We Must Burst Our Algorithmic Bubbles and Build Together Across Difference 1:13:18

1M ago1:13:18

1:13:18

“We need each other, and interdependence is key to survival for human beings,” says Mariame organizer Kaba. In this episode, Mariame and Kelly talk about what their book Let This Radicalize You brings to this moment. They also discuss the fight for reproductive justice, the problem with schadenfreude, and the need to build collective courage. Music…

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148. Debt Discussion 12, In the Middle of Something New with Yanis Varoufakis 41:56

1M ago41:56

41:56

Yanis Varoufakis joins me to discuss his new book, Technofeudalism, how the world economy has changed since Graeber wrote Debt, and where things might be going next. Live long and prosper.By Graham Culbertson

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The Police : An Anarchist Perspective 5:18

2M ago5:18

5:18

By Mutual Aid Works

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#669 Bar Exam on Recent Legal Cases Affecting Local Government with Megan Mack and Greg Jones 59:41

2M ago59:41

59:41

Three lawyers walk into a bar. Megan Mack and Greg Jones, both Partners at the local government law firm, Ancel Glink, joined the podcast to talk about recent cases impacting local governments. They discussed the Supreme Court ruling affecting camping bans in Grants Pass v. Johnson. They talked about two zoning cases involving a challenge from resi…

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147. Luigi Mangione and Anarchist Terrorism -- Constance Bantman 58:31

2M ago58:31

58:31

Constance Bantman joins me to discuss the history of anarchist political violence through the prism of Luigi Mangione - and vice versa. Some of the questions we cover include: Can the history of nineteenth-century anarchist terrorism help us understand the recent assassination of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson by Mangione, and its rapturous receptio…

1
The Problem of Sexism and Misogyny 7:02

2M ago7:02

7:02

By Mutual Aid Works

1
#668 Career Change and Leadership with Kayla Barber-Perrotta, Albany, OR 54:28

2M ago54:28

54:28

Kayla Barber-Perrotta, Deputy City Manager for the City of Albany, Oregon, rejoined the podcast to talk about her new role. She discussed the transition from Budget and Performance Manager to Deputy City Manager in a new state, what she was looking for in a new position, and the process to interview for a leadership role. She shared advice for othe…

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Fight Fear, Build Power: Community Defense Works 49:59

2M ago49:59

49:59

“This kind of repression, part of its intention is to isolate people,” says organizer Nikki Marín Baena. In this episode, Kelly talks with Nikki about community defense organizing and how communities are fighting back against Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Music: Son Monarcas and Heath Cantu You can find a transcript and show notes (including lin…

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Essay #100: Ruth Kinna, ‘Mutual Aid: What It Is and What It Is Not’ 14:07

2M ago14:07

14:07

This essay is adapted from Jim Donaghey's excellent collection, Fight for a New Normal? Anarchism and Mutual Aid in the Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis . It discusses some of the applications of 'mutual aid' in government agencies and its articulation in nineteenth century anarchist thought to flesh out a grassroots, transformative conception. Ruth Kinna …

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Zionism : An Anarchist Perspective 7:30

2M ago7:30

7:30

By Mutual Aid Works

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#667 Urban Cooling and Climate Action with Brianne Fisher, Tempe, AZ 1:01:47

2M ago1:01:47

1:01:47

Brianne Fisher, the Climate Action Manager for the City of Tempe, Arizona, joined the podcast to discuss sustainability and climate action. She talked about the importance of urban cooling to reduce risk from extreme heat and how green infrastructure plays a roll. She also shared key elements of the City's Climate Action Plan and the role of resili…

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Adoption, Privilege, and the Stories We Tell w/ Patrick Armstrong 51:28

2M ago51:28

51:28

In this episode, we explore the complexities of adoption, privilege, and the narratives that shape our understanding of family. Through personal stories and critical reflections, we unpack the ways in which adoption is often framed as an unquestionable good while overlooking the systemic issues at play. We discuss the intersection of race, class, a…

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146. James C. Scott's Two Cheers for Anarchism -- Luke Kemp 1:03:54

2M ago1:03:54

1:03:54

Luke Kemp returns to the show to discuss Two Cheers for Anarchism, James C. Scott's six essays or "fragments" applying an anarchist squint to the world. Luke and I discuss the joy of Scott's book, it's controversial place in anarchist theory, and why it's a good place for the anarcho-curious to start their journey into anarchism. Along the way I al…

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The Problem of Cultural Hegemony 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

* The internet and social media are also means by which the ruling class use cultural hegemony to shape people's perceptions and ways of thinking.By Mutual Aid Works

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#666 Civic Match with Caitlin Lewis, Work for America 49:22

2M ago49:22

49:22

Caitlin Lewis, Executive Director for Work for America, joined the podcast to discuss her work in tackling the government staffing crisis in communities nationwide. She shared information about their Civic Match program, opportunities the transition of federal administrations presents for local governments, and why she wants to ban the term ‘bureau…

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Let’s Learn and Live Lessons in Collective Survival Together 1:11:52

2M ago1:11:52

1:11:52

“We are really good at finding what's wrong with each other,” says author and podcaster Margaret Killjoy. “We really need to challenge ourselves to be ready to let people be better.” In this episode, Kelly and Margaret talk about preparedness, collective survival, and the organizing lessons we need in these times. Music: Son Monarcas, Curved Mirror…

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145. Debt Discussion 11, The Great Divergence with Christopher Isett 58:55

2M ago58:55

58:55

Christopher Isett joins me to discuss the rise of capitalism and "The Great Divergence," in which Christendom transformed itself from an obscure corner of the world into the dominant global power. Just how did that happen, what part did capitalism play in it, and why did capitalism develop in Europe? And what does China have to do with all of it? C…

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Essay #99: Keith Jacobs, ‘The Writings of Colin Ward and the Legacy of Anarchism for Housing Studies’ 17:43

2M ago17:43

17:43

In this essay Keith Jacobs considers the relevance of Colin Ward’s work for addressing contemporary housing challenges. It is claimed that Ward’s writings on housing offer both a trenchant critique of managerially inspired policies and a set of political interventions that merit consideration. Keith Jacobs is an Emeritus Professor in the School of …

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The Middle Class : A Working Class Anarchist Perspective 16:06

2M ago16:06

16:06

By Mutual Aid Works

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#665 Data and AI for Public Good with Amy Edwards Holmes, Center for Government Excellence 42:42

3M ago42:42

42:42

Amy Edwards Holmes, former Executive Director for the Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University joined the podcast to discuss data and artificial intelligence (AI) for the public good. She discussed use cases for AI for local government, how to safely use AI, and information about the GovEx City AI Connect. She also discussed how…

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Adoptee Identity & Research: Roots and Self-Discovery with Annalisa Toccara-Jones 50:18

3M ago50:18

50:18

Send us a textBy Zaira

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Spirituality : An Anarchist (and Atheist) Perspective 9:30

3M ago9:30

9:30

By Mutual Aid Works

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144. Victor Serge, Anarchist Bolshevik -- Mitchell Abidor 54:16

3M ago54:16

54:16

Today Mitch Abidor joins me to discuss Victor Serge: acclaimed novelist, anarchist, Bolshevik, anticommunist, and all-around 20th century contradiction. Mitch and I discuss the legend of Serge, what's true about it, and the ways that Serge fails to live up to the legend. You can find Mitch's writing all over the place, but here's a good place to st…