Heart Yoga Radio

DEMOCRACY FOR SALE - BOOK REVIEW

In this podcast, I review Peter Georghegan's recent book Democracy for Sale. This book deals with our kleptocratic politics and is well written, rigorously referenced and consequently very useful as an aid to our understanding of our situation. [Free. 29 minutes.]

CURTAINS FOR JOHNSON? - INTERESTING TIMES 32

In this podcast we ask if the current suspicions of corruption surrounding Johnson and the Tories will have any bite. We consider how changes of personnel in government  leave underlying structures and systems intact and ponder the nature of news cycles. [Free. 32 minutes.]

THE COLD WAR WITH CHINA - INTERESTING TIMES 31

This podcast deals with economic, military and propaganda aspects of the developing cold war with China. [Free. 1 hour 25 minutes.]

VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN IRELAND - INTERESTING TIMES 30

In this podcast we reflect on the recent violence in Northern Ireland from political, philosophical and psychological angles. [Free. 41 minutes.]

CAN THE LABOUR PARTY SAVE THE WORLD? - INTERESTING TIMES 29

In this podcast, we consider the current state of the UK Labour Party. We ask if the party has emancipatory potential in its current incarnation and attempt to estimate the possibilities for the success of a new broad left wing party. We put forward the idea the the UK could do with a constitutional re-jig along the lines being followed in Chile. We also give an estimate of the necessity for extra-institutional activism. [Free. 37 minutes.]

RAW THOUGHT - COLD WAR WITH CHINA

This patrons-only podcast is a recording of a discussion we had by way of a preparation for a forthcoming 'Interesting Times' current affairs episode on the developing cold war on China. [Patrons only. 1 hour 36 seconds.]

KILL THE BILL PROTESTS & WHAT THEY EXPOSE - INTERESTING TIMES 28

In this podcast we reflect on the recent Kill the Bill protests, focussing on events in Bristol on Friday in which police violence was particularly marked. [26 March 21]. What we draw out from this situation the nature of ideology, the self-understanding of the police, and the radicalisation of participants in the protests. [Free. 40 minutes.] 

PEACEFUL PROTEST TO BE ILLEGAL? - INTERESTING TIMES 27

In this podcast we consider the ramifications on the recent murder of Sara Everhard and the violence of the police handling of the vigil expressing the ensuing grief and concern of women held on Clapham Common this weekend. We show how these matters are related to the lived experience of women throughout the UK as evidenced by outpourings on social media, and the authoritarian thrust of the current Tory government. Though the latter have attempted to distance themselves from the disgusting behaviour of their coercive force, the Metropolitan Police, we suggest that this is an ideological, mystifying move, given that today they are shepherding a bill through Parliament which will vastly reduce the right to peaceful protest. As always, we suggest what practically can be done to push back against this ghastly situation and lay the foundations of a decent society. [Free. 33 minutes.] 

MONARCHY: INSTITUTION & SOAP OPERA - INTERESTING TIMES 26

Though prompted by the Prince Harry - Megan Markle interview with Oprah Winfrey and the ensuing furore, this podcast largely avoids the detail of those events, instead (initially) questioning the nature of the public and media interest in them. Consequently, I examine monarchy as an institution, drawing out the job it does of promoting hierarchical inequality, the hereditary principle, and a culture of deference. I go on to examine monarchy in its role as living soap opera which, I contend, serves to distract from urgent matters of public concern. I finishing by proposing the need for a new and fully democratic constitution for the UK and a method of writing it, inspired by recent developments in Chile. [Free. 27 minutes.]

THE DRY TINDER OF RESENTMENT & OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMANCIPATION - INTERESTING TIMES 25

Borrowing a metaphor from Chris Hedges, I consider the UK body politic as rather like a bulk of dry tinder waiting for a random spark to ignite a conflagration of unrest.  I suggest that both Brexit and the COV19 pandemic are intensifiers of this flammability. I treat the matter as having economic and cultural-ideological dimensions, particularly lighting on recent trade union activity in the UK. The recent UK budget receives some attention, particularly the 1% pay rise offer made to health service workers and the angry response that the health professionals made to it. I make suggestions as to how the broad left might not be caught disorientated the day after the inevitable sublime moments that are now waiting in the wings. This involves the judicious use of the utopian imagination to co-ordinate the many strands of progressive activism. [Free. 43 minutes.]