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For this episode, I spoke with Professor Bench Ansfield, author of the recent book, Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City.  In the book and the interview, we talked about the kindling (decades of redlining, deindustrialization, and more), the fuel (the government's FAIR program and the financialization of the insurance industry), and the spark (property owners torching their own properties for the payout), as well as the anti-arson movement that came of it. Music is by Evan Schaeffer.

Continuing the theme of the previous interviews with Dr. Thea Riofrancos and Dr. Mijin Cha about the ethical concerns that come with trying to transition away from fossil fuels and to a clean energy system, in this episode I spoke with Dr. Matt Biggar about how he thinks we can move in that direction.  You can find his book, Connected to Place on the author's website or on Bookshop. In addition to the previous two interviews, I also referred to an earlier interview with Eitan Hersh. You can find that here.  Music is by Evan Schaeffer

Continuing the theme of the previous interview with Dr. Thea Riofrancos, I spoke with Dr. Mijin Cha about the ethical concerns that come with trying to transition away from fossil fuels and to a clean energy system. A Just Transition for All: Workers and Communities for a Carbon-Free Future Additional resources she recommended: Climate and Community Institute The Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University Labor Network for Sustainability How to Blow Up a Pipeline by Andreas Malm In upcoming episodes, I'll speak a bit more about some ways to shift behavior and political power that align with these last two conversations:  Connected to Place Regenerating Nature, Communities, and Local Economies Through Systems Change by Matt Biggar I also have an interview about a historical period that's not Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City by Bench Ansfield  Music is by Evan Schaeffer

I spoke with Dr. Thea Riofrancos about the ethical concerns that come with trying to transition away from fossil fuels and to a clean energy system, specifically focusing on lithium mining as the example she highlighted in her book. Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism Music is by Evan Schaeffer

I spoke with journalist and author Osita Nwanevu about his recently published book, The Right of the People: The Case for a New American Founding. In this episode, I share our second conversation, about why we should have a new founding of American Democracy, and what that might look like. In the previous episode, we talked about the first half of the book: how do we define (and identify) democracies, and what are the arguments for and against democracy as a form of government. If you haven't listened yet, I think it's useful for this conversation, but you can also start here and listen to that one after if you so choose. As noted at the end, I'll link to a couple upcoming books that I interviewed the authors about, in case you want to read them in advance: Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism by Thea Riofrancos A Just Transition for All: Workers and Communities for a Carbon Free Future by J. Mijin Cha Music is by Evan Schaeffer

I spoke with journalist and author Osita Nwanevu about his recently published book, The Right of the People: The Case for a New American Founding. In this episode, we talked about the first half of the book: how do we define (and identify) democracies, and what are the arguments for and against democracy as a form of government. In the next episode, I'll share our second conversation, about why we should have a new founding of American Democracy, and what that might look like. As noted at the end, I'll link to a couple upcoming books that I interviewed the authors about, in case you want to get them in advance: Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism by Thea Riofrancos A Just Transition for All: Workers and Communities for a Carbon Free Future by J. Mijin Cha   Music is by Evan Schaeffer

I spoke with Lily Geismer and Brent Cebul about their recent book, Mastery and Drift: Professional Class Liberals Since the 1960s. We discussed what we mean when we talk about liberal as a political philosophy, and how the application of that principle has evolved in the last half-century in the United States especially, and consider the notable shortcomings that have resulted. Mastery and Drift: Professional-Class Liberals Since the 1960s Music is by Evan Schaeffer

I interviewed Brian Jones about his book Black History is for Everyone, in which he details his personal journey to understanding the truth and importance of that statement. You can find the book Black History is for Everyone at Bookshop.org and at Haymarket Books (currently 40% off as this episode posts).   Music is by Evan Schaeffer.

For this episode, I spoke with Prof. Manisha Sinha of the University of Connecticut, historian and author of the recent book The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic: Reconstruction, 1860-1920. We spoke about what a "new founding" of American democracy has looked like in the past, and what we might learn from that. Because we spoke for a good long while, I split it into two parts. Today is part 2.  In the coming weeks, I will share two interviews with author Osita Nwanevu, in which we separately discuss the two halves of the argument of his new book, "The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding." Before we discuss his argument that we need a new American founding, I prepared for that by speaking about the first time we had a "new founding," during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. Music is by Evan Schaeffer.

For this episode, I spoke with Prof. Manisha Sinha of the University of Connecticut, historian and author of the recent book The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic: Reconstruction, 1860-1920. We spoke about what a "new founding" of American democracy has looked like in the past, and what we might learn from that. Because we spoke for a good long while, I'm splitting it into two parts. Today is part 1.  In the coming weeks, I will share two interviews with author Osita Nwanevu, in which we separately discuss the two halves of the argument of his new book, "The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding." Before we discuss his argument that we need a new American founding, I prepared for that by speaking about the first time we had a "new founding," during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. Music is by Evan Schaeffer.

I spoke with Dr. Vaughn Joy, author of a recent book on Christmas movies and politics. We spoke about Frank Capra, his celebration of America through film, and his ostracization as an alleged Communist, despite that. Selling Out Santa: Hollywood Christmas Films in the Age of McCarthy Music is by Evan Schaeffer.

I spoke with Kim Kelly, labor journalist and author of the recent American labor history: Fight Like Hell about the book and about what we can learn from labor history to help us today. Music is by Evan Schaeffer.

I spoke with Professor Sara Bronin to learn about zoning: what is it, what is its purpose, and how does it work.  Link to her book on bookshop: Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World Link to her website tool to learn about zoning generally and in your area: National Zoning Atlas   Music is by Evan Shaeffer.

In advance of an upcoming interview about democracy with Osita Nwanevu, I revisited a 2020 interview with Lawrence Lessig about what the rule of law is, in order to be a better defender of and advocate for it. It's aged perfectly well for the general ideas. Some statements aged, not exactly poorly, but not well. I'd say they were maybe better described as "prophetic" in discussing the path not taken. Music by Evan Schaeffer

I spoke with Nicole Williams, a Philadelphia activist and organizer with Mt. Airy Community Fridge & Pantry about the work that the community fridge does as mutual aid and about mutual aid more broadly.  Music is by Evan Schaeffer.