Best Robyn Frank Podcasts (2025)

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“Much Much Worse than McCarthyism, But with a Big Positive Difference”: A Conversation with Legendary Historian Ellen Schrecker 47:33

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6h ago47:33

47:33

Today I have the immense honor and privilege to speak with Ellen Schrecker, who has been referred to as “the dean of the anti-anti-Communist historians.” Well known for her classic studies of McCarthyism, today Schrecker explains how much worse Trump’s regime is than what we saw in the 1950s and 60s. A fierce defender of democracy, Ellen explains t…

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Eunsong Kim Explains How Our Great Art Collections are Based on Debasing and Erasing Labor: The Politics of Collecting: Race & the Aestheticization of Property 53:12

3d ago53:12

53:12

Today I am delighted to talk with Eunsong Kim about her stunning book, The Politics of Collecting: Race & the Aestheticization of Property. It is remarkable in its theoretical conceptualization, argument, and archival work. Kim argues that the beginnings of elite art collection in the United States coincided with the rise of the robber barons and t…

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S10Ep45: Robyn Green Interview 23:32

6d ago23:32

23:32

Robyn Green shares her debut novel The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose. We discuss writing depth into the lives of the characters who bring her theatre-based queer romcom to life! https://robyngreen.my.canva.site/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/robyn-green/

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Jamaica Osorio: Poems on Gaza—Contemplating the Impossible and Being Steadfast in Solidarity 48:43

6d ago48:43

48:43

Today I am deeply honored to spend time with poet, activist, and scholar Jamaica Osorio. Shortly after October 7, 2023, she began to write a series of astonishing poems about the war in Gaza and the genocide. Osorio graces us with readings of some of those poems, and engages in a rich, complex, and deeply moving discussion of what went into their c…

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Episode 10: SEASON 1 FINALE! Celebrating the Time We Have! With Stephanie March 1:15:39

7d ago1:15:39

1:15:39

Does it feel like time is fragile with your loved one? We do too. The truth is, none of us know how much or little time we have left with one another. For our Season 1 finale, we don’t just go deep, we go to THERAPY with our friend, Stephanie March. (We highly encourage you to take a read through her popular substack, Pickle.) Stephanie shares her …

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S10Ep44: Richard Sargent Interview 32:04

13d ago32:04

32:04

Richard Sargent shares his The Ultimate Chick Flick Cookbook. We discuss bringing people together with food and films, and he shares how he created recipes inspired by the films in the book. https://linktr.ee/rsargent83 http://www.wrotepodcast.com/richard-sargent/

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“Liza Featherstone and Doug Henwood on Zohran Mamdani’s Victory in NYC: What is Its Significance, and What’s Next?” 36:48

13d ago36:48

36:48

In February, a New York assemblyman little known outside New York City was polling at 1% in his bid for mayor of NYC. This Tuesday, he became mayor-elect, after running a remarkable and inspiring campaign that drew 100,000 volunteers to knock on two million doors. Largely centering on making NYC affordable for everyone, Zohran Mamdani toppled a pol…

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Talking with Dean Spade about Love in a Fucked-Up World: How letting go of the Romance Myth frees us to be better lovers and activists 51:29

14d ago51:29

51:29

Today I have the pleasure of talking with Dean Spade about his new book, Love in a Fucked-up World: how to build relationships, hook up, and raise hell together. This book builds on all of Dean’s previous books, and shares their commitment to finding ways to build better movements for better worlds. Like all of his work, Love in a Fucked Up World h…

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S10Ep43: Jon Kinnally Interview 49:07

20d ago49:07

49:07

Jon Kinnally shares his memoir I'm Prancing As Fast As I Can. We discuss how his life as a self-doubting gay youth brought him to acting and ultimately writing for television's Will & Grace, Ugly Betty, The Crazy Ones and others. https://jonkinnally.com/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/jon-kinnally/

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Epiosde 9: Holiday Survival Guide: A Very Tricky Christmas! 51:28

21d ago51:28

51:28

We can all relate to the chaos of the holiday season and when you’re in The Sandwich Generation, things can feel…extra tricky. You’re packing up the strollers, the walkers and packing diaper bags for both the young and old - ah! Yes! The Holidays! In this episode, hosts Eliesa Johnson and Robyn Frank talk about the hilarious predicaments of the hol…

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Policing Black Lives: Abolition, not Reform, and on a Transnational Scale—A Conversation with Robyn Maynard 42:36

21d ago42:36

42:36

In 2017, activist-scholar Robyn Maynard published her groundbreaking study, Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present. Today, I have the privilege of talking with her about the second edition of this study, which has just been published by Duke University Press. Robyn tells us what has happened since 2017 that compe…

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Discussing the Sudanese Solidarity Collective with Nisrin Elamin: Supporting Mutual Aid & Resistance Organizations 55:42

24d ago55:42

55:42

Today I talk with Professor Nisrin Elamin about the situation in Sudan, where we find both a war between rival factions and these same factions continuing counter-revolutionary campaign against pro-democracy forces. We discuss how regional actors such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have contributed to the repression of democracy, and …

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S10Ep42: Vinny Cusenza Interview 44:07

27d ago44:07

44:07

Vinny Cusenza shares his novel Blood and Soil. We discuss setting a romance and thriller against the American Nazi movement in the 1950s, and how that shaped the gay closet. We then correlate that history to the echoes of it we're feeling today. https://www.vinnycusenza.com/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/vinny-cusenza/…

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By-passing “Tradition,” Governmental Norms, and Global North Saviourism: Talking with Zachariah Mampilly About Rural Protest in Africa 47:34

1M ago47:34

47:34

How have young people in rural areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo invented new forms of radicalism in response to the impact of new flows of foreign investment and the inability of normal national and international politics to serve their needs and interests? Zachariah Mampilly explains how rural and urban spaces have seen a complex transit …

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S10Ep41: Frank Pizzoli Interview 1:04:17

1M ago1:04:17

1:04:17

Frank Pizzoli shares his book Passionate Outlier. We discuss the evolution of journalism, interviewing the movers and shakers of early LGBTQ literature on what their thoughts are on their careers. https://www.facebook.com/frank.pizzoli.7/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/frank-pizzoli/

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South Bay Youth Changemakers: Going Beyond the Stereotype of “Asian American” to Realize a Broad Sense of Community and Activism in Silicon Valley 47:24

1M ago47:24

47:24

Today I have the pleasure of talking with Supriya Khandelwal and Koa Tran, two members of the South Bay Youth Changemakers, and one of its co-directors, Amulya Mandava. This Asian American organization, located at the heart of Silicon Valley, seeks to both challenge and expand the label, Asian American. The SBYC directs its energy into projects tha…

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Episode 8.5: How do I NOT age like my parents? With Rachel Daugherty of Booty and Brains.Co 56:58

1M ago56:58

56:58

For caregivers who have watched a loved one decline from the terrible diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Cancer; the question is often asked, “Will this happen to me? Is there anything I can do to prevent this?” If you are in The Sandwich Generation, you also know that finding time for self care is hard (See Episode 4: Self Care is a SCAM!). …

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Breaking Free from the First Amendment to Make Fearless Speech and Counterpublics: A Conversation with Mary Anne Franks 51:04

1M ago51:04

51:04

Today I have the honor and the pleasure of speaking with legal scholar Mary Anne Franks, about her book, Fearless Speech: Breaking Free from the First Amendment. As the title of the book indicates, this is a fearless and iconoclastic critique of the ways that the First Amendment has been interpreted and mobilized in ways that protect and extend rac…

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S10Ep40: Jaye C Watts Interview 29:58

1M ago29:58

29:58

Jaye C. Watts shares their novel The New Worlds! We discuss dystopian science fiction that explores themes of polarization, digital silos, and the nature of truth. We then touch on Jaye's work at the Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria. https://jayecwatts.com/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/jaye-c-watts/…

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The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why it Matters: A Conversation with Christine Webb 50:10

1M ago50:10

50:10

Today I am delighted to speak with primatologist Christine Webb about her new book, The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why it Matters. The title of the book itself is a concise and precise description of its two constituent halves. First, Webb tells us how science itself, from premodern times onward, has operated with an assumpt…

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The Terrible Connections between Detention and Prisons, and Why Immigrant Justice Needs Abolition: A Conversation with Silky Shah. 40:10

2M ago40:10

40:10

Today I have the honor of speaking with longtime activist Silky Shah, Executive Director of the Detention Watch Network, about her new, and extremely important book, Unbuild Walls: Why Immigrant Justice Needs Abolition. Shah provides a critical discussion about the intersection between detention, the prison industrial complex, and anti-immigrant ra…

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S10Ep39: Jeffrey Round Interview 30:18

2M ago30:18

30:18

Jeffrey Round shares his novel The English Tutor! We discuss cultural differences, dividing beliefs, and love that still blossoms as two people from completely different worlds learn to understand one another. https://jeffreyround.com/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/jeffrey-round/

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Episode 8: I think my parent has Alzheimer’s, NOW what?! With Dr. Elizabeth Edgerly of the Alzheimer's Association 1:13:33

2M ago1:13:33

1:13:33

Almost everyone knows someone who has Alzheimer’s Disease. For many of us in The Sandwich Generation, this diagnosis was also the moment we became caregivers for our loved ones. But it’s all so confusing - is it Alzheimer’s? Is it Dementia? How do I bring up this conversation with my parents? Am I genetically dispositioned to get this too? WTF! In …

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The Politics and Power of Palestinian Storytelling—A Proud History and A Vivid Present 54:14

2M ago54:14

54:14

Today I have the real pleasure of speaking with Maytha Alhassen and Halah Ahmad, two prominent feminist activists, writers, and scholars deeply committed to exploring the connections between the Arabic language, storytelling, and political agency, from the historical past to the present. We talk about the continuity of storytelling forms and techni…

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S10Ep38: Elizabeth Roderick Interview 39:34

2M ago39:34

39:34

Elizabeth Roderick joins us with their series: Tales from Purgatory! We discuss books 1, The Commune, and 2, Deathwalkers, and the intersection of the afterlife and dreaming. We conclude with discussion on helping queer asylum-seeking immigrants. https://www.talesfrompurgatory.com/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/elizabeth-roderick/…

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Maya Salameh: How to Make an Algorithm in the Microwave and A New Grammar of Diaspora 38:30

2M ago38:30

38:30

Today I talk with poet Maya Salameh about her poetry collection, How to Make an Algorithm in the Microwave, which won the prestigious Etal Adnan Poetry Prize in 2022. The judges remarked, “Maya Salameh’s poetry stood out for its inventiveness in cracking the code of life ‘between system and culture'…The turns and swerves the poems make are astonish…

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S10Ep37: Andrew J. Peters Interview 37:19

2M ago37:19

37:19

Andrew J. Peters returns with his series Jaguar of the Backward Glance! While talking about book one The Awakening and book two The Sim Ru Prophecy we cover feline shifters and the research into myths and legends across the globe that brings this paranormal fantasy thriller to life! https://andrewjpeterswrites.com/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/andre…

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The Genocide in Gaza--What International Law Demands of Israel and Third States: A Discussion with Ardi Imseis and Chris Gunness 50:58

2M ago50:58

50:58

Today I am extremely grateful to Ardi Imseis and Chris Gunness for joining me for an urgent discussion of Israel’s accelerated genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank. These eminent international human rights scholars discuss Israel’s longstanding violations of international law and the complicity of the US. We also discuss at lengt…

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Episode 7: Saying goodbye to the childhood home - also my parents have WAY too much STUFF! With Alli Rubin, Professional Moving Manager 1:07:39

2M ago1:07:39

1:07:39

Downsizing and moving your aging parents is one of the hardest tasks of all time. Or maybe your loved one has already passed and you are tasked with selling a home and going through a lifetime of belongings. It’s. Brutal. Seriously, it’s the definition of overwhelm. Where do you begin? In this episode, we welcome guest Alli Rubin who is a professio…

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Great Uehling on Decolonizing Ukraine: The Indigenous People of Crimea, and Why Rights are Needed, Not Just Recognition 32:19

2M ago32:19

32:19

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with cultural anthropologist Greta YOU-LING about her new book, Decolonizing Ukraine: The Indigenous People of Crimea and Pathways to Freedom, a fascinating story about an indigenous group in Crimea fighting for its rights. Uehling tells us of the complex history of the Crimean Tatars, a Sunni Muslim group who …

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S10Ep36: Daniel W.K. Lee Interview 51:04

2M ago51:04

51:04

Daniel W.K. Lee shares his book of poetry, Anatomy of Want. We discuss exploring desire that isn't necessarily romantic, and writing in a way that's evocative, not provocative. http://www.danielwklee.com/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/daniel-lee/

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Talking with Karen Hao About Empire of AI and the Colonizing Logic Behind AI 43:35

2M ago43:35

43:35

In this episode of Speaking Out of Place, investigative journalist Karen Hao explains that OpenAI is anything but “open”—very early on, it left behind that marketing tag to become increasingly closed and elitist. Her massive study, Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI had a rather different subtitle in its UK edition: “Inside …

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S10Ep35: Blair Fell Interview 40:43

3M ago40:43

40:43

Blair Fell joins us to talk about life as a writer, and then shares his two novels, First, The Sign for Home about the deaf/blind experience with a gay twist. Then Disco Witches of Fire Island, a romantacy about losing a love, moving, and finding elders who help him mend his heart. https://blairfell.com/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/blair-fell/…

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Episode 6: How to save your friendships when you’re in The Sandwich Generation 47:54

3M ago47:54

47:54

Have you ever been asked by a friend, “What can I do to help?” and you go blank?! Yeah, us too. Being in The Sandwich Generation is a lot. And it’s oftentimes hard for our friends and ourselves to communicate just how lonely it feels and how much we need our friends. In this episode hosts Robyn Frank and Eliesa Johnson discuss the challenges of mai…

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Arabic Literature in the Time of Genocide: A Conversation with Huda Fakhreddine 45:38

3M ago45:38

45:38

Today I talk with Huda Fakhreddine, writer, translator, and scholar of Arabic literature. Among the many topics we touch upon are the challenges of teaching Arabic literature, especially Palestinian literature, in a time of genocide, when universities, professional organizations, and political groups militate against any honest discussion of these …

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S10Ep34: Nathan Burgoine Interview 38:16

3M ago38:16

38:16

'Nathan Burgoine returns to share his latest Hi-Lo novel, Dogs Don't Break Hearts. We discuss the importance of High-Interest-Low-Complexity novels, and why stories for reluctant readers are the "if you know, you know" genre. We then touch on the awful notion of the neutrality movements and the damage they're doing. http://www.nathanburgoine.com/ h…

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The Poetics and Pedagogy of Toni Cade Bambara, June Jordan, Audre Lorde, and Adrienne Rich in the Era of Free College: A Conversation with Danica Savonick 42:46

3M ago42:46

42:46

Today it’s my honor to speak with Danica Savonick about her marvelous book entitled Open Admissions: The Poetics and Pedagogy of Toni Cade Bambara, June Jordan, Audre Lorde, and Adrienne Rich in the Era of Free College. This is a riveting and deeply inspiring story of how each of these luminaries in the fields of literature and feminism found their…

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S10Ep33: Kevin Klehr Interview 37:35

3M ago37:35

37:35

Kevin Klehr returns to share his upcoming novel, Grayson's Magical Mishaps. We discuss the second year of the Haunted Heart Series, a cast of characters the blends humor with magical realism, and then move on to the audiobook release of The Midnight Man. https://kevinklehr.com/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/kevin-klehr/…

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Neoliberals meet MAGA: A Conversation with Quinn Slobodian on Hayek’s Bastards: Race, Gold, IQ, and the Capitalism of the Far Right 52:11

3M ago52:11

52:11

Today I'm delighted to talk with Quinn Slobodian about his new book, Hayek’s Bastards: Race, Gold, IQ, and the Capitalism of the Far Right. We take a deep dive into the genesis of a weird and powerful merging of two seemingly different groups the Far Right and neoliberals. Slobodian writes, “as repellent as their politics may be these radical think…

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Episode 5: F*ck - now I have to manage my parent’s finances too? With Shannon Foreman of Forethought Planning 1:07:09

3M ago1:07:09

1:07:09

Raise your hand if you’re a caregiver who has needed to manage your parent’s finances and you think - oh F*ck - this is A LOT more difficult than I expected?!? We think everyone in the room right now feels this way! No matter how full or empty the bank account is, opening the books to your parents finances, managing the cost of care and navigating …

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Displaced in Gaza: Stories from the Gaza Genocide--A Conversation with Yousef Aljamal 31:12

3M ago31:12

31:12

Today we are deeply honored and privileged to speak with journalist-activist Yousef Aljamal, one of the editors of a remarkable, gripping, and altogether inspiring collection, Displaced in Gaza: Stories from the Gaza Genocide, 27 stories written by Palestinians in Gaza. We talk about the conception behind the book, and concentrate on certain keywor…

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S10Ep32: Jessamyn St Claire Interview 31:35

3M ago31:35

31:35

Jessamyn St. Claire shares her novel Hunted. We discuss bisexual inclusion, building passion through danger, and writing modern mafia noir thrillers. https://jessamynstclaire.substack.com/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/jessamyn-stclaire/

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On the Significance of US Sanctions on the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese: Three Former UN Special Rapporteurs Weigh In 43:01

3M ago43:01

43:01

Recently, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio imposed sanctions on the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, saying, “The United States has repeatedly condemned and objected to biased and malicious activities of Albanese that have long made her unfit for service as a Special Rapporteur.” Today we are joine…

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Every Monument Will Fall: Talking with Dan Hicks About the Present’s Responsibility to Itself 55:51

3M ago55:51

55:51

How do not only monuments, but also the very idea of monumentality, serve to mystify and perpetuate beliefs that maintain social orders that deserve to be strenuously re-evaluated? Archaeologist and anthropologist Dan Hicks traces the development of a particularly virulent strain of monument-worship, that which emerges out of what he calls “militar…

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S10Ep31: Kara Zajac Interview 37:06

3M ago37:06

37:06

Kara Zajac shares her memoir The Significance of Curly Hair. We discuss overcoming grief with humor, the fear of becoming a 'traditional'woman, raising a child in an alternative family, and how to thrive without giving up your dreams. https://www.karazajac.com/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/kara-zajac/…

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Episode 4: Self care feels like a SCAM! 41:16

3M ago41:16

41:16

How the f*ck am I supposed to fit in self care? This is a question we ask ourselves all. of. the. Time. (especially while living this ‘sandwiched’ lifestyle). With the algorithms feeding us endless articles about all the ways we ‘should’ be doing self care, frankly, it all feels like a scam. In this episode, we (Eliesa Johnson and Robyn Frank) open…

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Fighting Back Against ICE: Grupo Auto Defensa’s Courage and Love 54:47

4M ago54:47

54:47

Today we speak with Daniela Navin and Jeanette de La Riva, two members of Grupo Auto Defensa, a community organization based in Pasadena CA which has come about in response to attacks by ICE which have violently disrupted everyday life and led people to form new relations of mutual support and care. We hear their stories of how Trump lieutenant Ste…

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From Indefensible Spaces, Police, and the Struggle for Housing, to the Case of Abolitionist Housing: A Conversation with Rahim Kurwa 43:14

4M ago43:14

43:14

Today I talk with Rahim Kurwa about a powerful study of housing rights and police repression in Southern California. Tapping into a vast historical archive as well as oral histories with residents of Antelope Valley, California, Rahim traces the complex relationship between this region and the City of Los Angeles. Using David Harvey’s famous notion…

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S10Ep29: Lee Pulaski Interview 45:44

4M ago45:44

45:44

Lee Pulaski shares his latest novel We Ride at Brunch. We discuss found family and whether can friends become lovers. Then we peek into the state of LGBTQ book events. https://www.leepulaski.com/ http://www.wrotepodcast.com/lee-pulaski/By Vance Bastian

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The Final Phases of Genocide: What Global Civil Society Must Do. A Conversation with International Jurists Lara Elborno, Penny Green & Richard Falk 40:06

4M ago40:06

40:06

On May 15, international legal experts Lara Elborno, Richard Falk, and Penny Green joined me to discuss the work of the Gaza Tribunal, a group devoted to creating an archive of facts and a set of documents and arguments to help international civil society fight against the genocide in Gaza and the Zionist regime that, along with the United States, …