Advertise on podcast: Talking Strategy, Making History

Rating

★★★★★

from

8 reviews

Description

Each episode will focus on a different aspect or example of the general theme. Our kick-off frame is the awkward position that progressives find themselves in. It seems obvious, at least to a significant portion of Leftists, that “working within the Democratic Party” has to be part of any realistic strategy for making substantive, social democratic or radical change in the United States. What is far less clear is what this means practically, in terms of organization and elections. For many years, the slogan of the Left has been to work both “inside and outside” the Democratic Party. But what does that “inside” part actually look like? The podcast project comes from our experience as progressive activists--and from the urgency of now. Dick Flacks taught sociology at UC Santa Barbara and Umiversity of Chicago for 60 years. He's of the founding generation of Students for a Democratic Society and helped write the Port Huron Statement (along with Tom Hayden and the big Lebowski). He and his late wife Mickey recntly published a memoir of their lives--political and personal. It's called MAKING HISTORY/MAKING BLINTZES: HOW TWO RED DIAPER BABIES FOUND EACH OTHER AND DISCOVERED AMERICA. He's written a lot about the American Left--most notably MAKING HISTORY: THE AMERICAN LEFT AND THE AMERICAN MIND. His weekly radio show called'The Culture of Protest' can be heard 6 pm Thursdays on www.kcsb.org. Daraka Larimore-Hall is vice-chair of the Democratic Party of California and a political and organizational consultant working primarily for social democratic parties and trade unions abroad. A lifelong political activist, Daraka first met Dick when he was in Jr High School, and first getting involved in local progressive politics in Santa Barbara. Since then, Daraka has been a national leader and staffer for DSA, a board member of the International Union of Socialist Youth, an activist and elected officer of United Auto Workers Local 2865, as well as active in the Democratic Party at all levels. He received his PhD, supervised by Dr. Flacks, in 2013. Per Hoel is the producer/director of our effort. Per helped found the DSA chapter in Santa Barbara in the aftermath of the Sanders campaign in 2016. He's a professional videographer and multimedia designer and works in instructional design.

Unlock Talking Strategy, Making History podcast Email contact info,
Listeners & Audience details

Email contact information

Direct podcast contact details

Listeners

Audience numbers & engagement insights

Audience details

Podcast Insights

Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from Talking Strategy, Making History podcast

#61: Talking with David Dayen about the New Majority Makers"

2026/09/20

#61: Talking with David Dayen about the New Majority Makers" David Dayen, executive editor of AMERICAN PROSPECT magazine, is one of the best political reporters. He recently published a detailed report on the campaigns of several progressives, who won primaries ageist Democratic establishment backed candidates, in previously GOP leaning districts--and they're running as progressives with good chances of winning. If you're looking for campaigns to support--and for some promise for the future--this episode has some clues. Muaic: "Dark Money" by David Rovics (aka AI Tsuno)" Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]

#60 Talking With Nelson Lichtenstein about the state of unions

2026/08/25

#60 Talking With Nelson Lichtenstein about the state of unions In time for Labor Day, we converse with Nelson Lichtenstein, the dean of American labor historians. He wrote, years ago, a classic biography of Walter Reuther, who, as president of the United Auto Workers, was a leading figure in post world war II efforts to advance the goals of the New Deal. The UAW remains one of the most important labor unions, having recruited tens of thousands of academic workers to join the factory worker base. Current UAW president, Shawn Fain, who has been speaking a militant language of class struggle, is fighting for re-election and Nelson helps us understand the stakes and the dynamics of that conflict. And we talk as well about union democracy, and about what else is to be done. Music: Joe Jenks sings: 'You are the U in Union" by Si Kahn. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]

#59 Daraka & Dick Discuss DSA's Electoral Efforts

2026/08/13

#59 Daraka & Dick Discuss DSA"s Electoral Effort Both of us have long history in the earlier days of DSA--and are both excited and have worries about the remarkable electoral project DSAers are spearheading. We explore some of the dilemmas, one of which is the 'resolutionary socialism' that's a feature of DSA's organizational life. At the heart of the matter is the inherent contradiction between winning electoral majorities and advancing new, challenging and controversial reform. Music: 'Turn the World Around" by Harry Belafonte Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]

#58 Daraka & Dick Talking about socialists winning elections in the USA

2026/07/10

"We talk about how and why candidates who identify as democratic socialists are winning in elections across the country. What are the potentials--and the dilemmas and pitfalls--for the emerging Left electoral project. And what does "socialism " mean anyway? We hope to resolve all such questions--or at least pose them-- by the end of the summer., and we hope you'll share the journey.. Music: "What Kind of a Country?" Barbara Dane" Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]

#57 Talking about how to make sense of California's messy politics

2026/05/17

The current primary campaign for California governor appears messy--too many candidates on the Democratic side, who are at once qualified and flawed, and primary rules that could result in two unpopular Republicans as the November choice. Daraya has years of experience as a county and state Democrat reform leader, whose PhD research mapped the history of leftwing efforts to influence the party; Dick participant in the new left that began in the 60s, and worked since to foster left coalition --talk about why the current 'mess' reveals the urgent need and potential for such coalition going forward in California and in the country. And if you listen, you may get some useful ways to solve the puzzle about how-to vote in the upcoming primary. Your comments at patreon.com/tsmh please. Share this episode with folks who might be glad to get it. Look for Daraka Larimore-Hall and Richard Flacks on Facebook. music: "Someone Died for Me" The Children of Selma

#56 Talking with Miriam Pawel about the Cautionary Tale of Cesar Chavez

2026/05/02

#56 Talking with Miriam Pawel about the Cautionary Tale of Cesar Chavez Miriam Pawel is one of California's leading journalist/historians. She wrote two great books about Cesar Chavez and the struggles of California"s farmworkers: THE UNION OF THEIR DREAMS (2010) and THE CRUSADES OF CESAR CHAVEZ (2014), based on extensive oral histories and immersion in the vast written and taped archives Cesar Chavez helped create. The works give deep appreciation of both the inspiring and the dark sides of the movement and his leadership. She's thought much about the recent shocking revelations; our conversation moves from the scandal to the wider contradictions of charismatic leadership in movements and how such toxicity can be avoided. We also preview Miriam Pawel's from hottom book, CALIFORNIA DREAMS, about the University of California's history and the quest for equality in the state. And don't miss her recent THE BROWNS OF CALIFORNIA (2019) (Jerry and his father and their ancestors) , and her regularly appearing columns in the New York Times, where she's a contributing opinion editor. music: Huelga en General by Los Lobos Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]

#55: Daraka & Dick Talk About the State of California Democrats

2026/03/28

#55: Daraka & Dick Talk About the State of California Democrats Daraka has been a long time leader for progressive movement in the California Democratic Party. He was chair of the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party for many years, and elected vice chair of the state party a few years ago. In this episode we examine the messy governor' primary, and the absence of statewide progressive and labor leadership. The proposed billionaire wealth tax iitiative and Gavin Newsom's character are scrutinized--and we identify hopeful paths for the political future. Read Daraka's incisive piece on left political strategy in the current issue of the Nation: https://www.thenation.com/authors/daraka-larimore-hall/ Music: Bette Midler, 'All you fascists bound to lose!" Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]

#54: Talking with Ali Esbati About What's Left of Nordic Social Democracy

2026/02/14

Ali Ekbati was a leader of Sweden's Left Party in 2014 when he was elected to parliament where he served for a decade. In recent years he's been a popular blogger and economic analyst, now living in Oslo, Norway from where he spoke with us. His family emigrated to Scandinavia from Iran when he was a child. The conversation helps illuminate the current stagnation of the once exemplary Scandinavian social democratic model--and some openings for a new left politics based on multicultural solidarity. We close with Norwegian musical evidence for hope.

#53 Talking with University of Minnesota Professor Joshua Page on the streets of Minneapolis

2026/02/02

#53 Talking with University of Minnesota Professor Joshua Page on the streets of Minneapolis. Josh Page is the Fink Professor of Sociology and Law at the University of Minnesota. He is the author of The Toughest Beat: Politics, Punishment, and the Prison Officers Union in California and co-author of Breaking the Pendulum: The Long Struggle over Criminal Justice ; just published is Legal Plunder:The Predatoryi Dimensions of Criminal Justice (co-authored with Joe Soss). He shared eye-witness commentary and historical context for the astonishing MInneapolis resistance movement, and the insights of an expert on policing about ICE. Music: "Streets of Minneapolis" Bruce Springsteen. "To subcribe to our podcast go to Patreon.com/tsmh. For a transcript of this and all previous episodes, go to tsmh.castos.com

#52 Talking with reform activist Sam Rosenthal about How Democrats lost in 2024 and what is to be done

2026/01/05

#52 Talking with Democratic Party reformer Sam Rosenthal about how the Democrats lost in 2024 and what is to be done. Sam Rosenthal is political director of Roots Action, whose autopsy of the 2024 election offers a springboard for creating a strategy to change the party. Sam has, as well, been a national leader in DSA's eletoral activity. We're all preoccupied with the Venezuela situation (which happened the day after Daraka and Dick talked with Sam) but that increases the urgency for devising effective political strategy--and this episode is of use for that end. The Roots Action report is at Autopsy-The-Democratic-Party-In-Crisis.pdf Sam's band "Personal Spaces" has several records out and can be heard on Apple Music, etc. We concluded the episode with one of the tracks. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]

#51 Talking about Seattle's astonishing mayoral election with union organizer Michael Laslett & Prof Jim Gregory

2025/12/13

#51 Talking about Seattle's astonishing mayoral election with union organizer Michael Laslett & Prof. Jim Gregory Seattle's mayoral election was, like the Mamdani victory in NY, an important progressive victory. Veteran community organizer Kate Wilson, defeated the incumbent, liberal mayor. We (Dick Flacks & Daraka Larimore Hall) invited University of Washington labor historian Jim Gregory and veteran Seattle union leader Michael Laslett to explore how Seattle's class struggle history, and contemporary grassroots battles with Amazon and other corporate giants, led to this outcome--and, why we need to pay attention to Seattle going forward. music: Michael Laslett performs "They All Sang Bread & Roses" by Si Kahn. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]

#50 Daraka & Dick talking about what the recent election might mean for living in the USA

2025/11/11

#50 Daraka & Dick Talking About the Recent Election Mamdani's astonishing campaign in NYC along with the Democratic sweep last week inspired us to grab our mics for a conversation. How will Mamdani be able to bring the change his supporters are hoping for? How can the electoral repudiation of MAGA be built on and to what ends? We try to go beyond the horse race patter and cynical tone of media and online chatter. We're pushing instead hope to help fuel the hard work ahead. Music: "Zohran Mamdani for Mayor" Red Dawn t7

#49 Talking with faculty leaders about the Trump assault on the University of California

2025/10/27

#49: Talking with faculty leaders resisting the Trump assault on the University of California Prof. Jessica Taft, co-president of the Council of UC Faculty Associations (CUCFA) and Prof. Charmaine Chua, CUCFA director of campus organizing, talk about the new lawsuits challenging the Trump coercive actions against UC, sponsored by a historic coalition of university based unions, CUCFA and the national AAUP. We talk about the nature of the assault on higher education, and ways to organize in response, and the episode is a chance to get to know two outstanding leaders of the rising generation of academics dedicated to democracy. Jessica Taft teaches Latin American Studies, and directs the Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas at UC Santa Cruz. She's written several books about youth activism. Charmaine Chua has just joined the Geography Department at UC Berkeley, after several years teaching Global Studies at UCSB. One of her multiple current projects is a book she's co-writing on "how to beat Amazon". Daraka, who is also of the new generation, was unable, at the last minute, to be on the call. He was missed...but will be back. Music: "I'm going to say it now" by Phil Ochs I hope it's possible to correct?

#48 Talking with David Duhalde on Understanding DSA

2025/09/01

"#48: Talking History and Strategy with David Duhalde David is a long tme DSA leader. He served as deputy director of DSA and as director of the DSA Fund. We invited him back to reflect on his recent article which situates DSA today within the long history of American socialist organization. Ww try to draw good lessons from the past that can help going forward. Music: "Understanding Marx" by the Economics Rock & Roll Band"

#47 Talking with J.W. Mason about what can Zohran accomplish?

2025/07/22

#47 Talking with JW Mason about what Zohran can accomplish Jpsh Mason is an economics professor at John Jay College, CUNY and a senior fellow at Groundwork, whose recent article in Dissent provides much insight into what Mamdani, if elected, can do to advance the "democratic socialist" agenda that helped inspire his grassroots victory in the NY mayoral primary. You may be surprised by his take. It's the first of what we hope will be several podcast conversations wth participat-observers aimed at illuminating how the campaign has been organized and what it may mean. Josh blogs at The Slack Wire. (RSS feed.) You can sign up for his free email newsletter at Substack. Music: from the original cast album of Fiorello! "The Bum Won!" Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]

Podcast reviews

Read Talking Strategy, Making History podcast reviews

5 out of 5

8 reviews

★★★★★

Ztk2006 2023/03/18

Top tier political talk

I would be hard pressed to think of two better people to help us all understand politics, strategy, and the real ways we might build a better world. ...

★★★★★

PolpotWasAJerkFace 2020/12/01

We need more

There are not enough Darakas to helpl this planet accept and forgive us for emulating cancer. What about Caroline?

check all reviews on apple podcasts