Episodes
Thursday Jun 10, 2021
EL-SALVADOR TAKES HISTORIC STEP - INTERESTING TIMES 37
Thursday Jun 10, 2021
Thursday Jun 10, 2021
In this podcast we examine El Salvador's recent decision to make Bitcoin legal tender. [Free. 28 minutes.]
Monday May 03, 2021
DEMOCRACY FOR SALE - BOOK REVIEW
Monday May 03, 2021
Monday May 03, 2021
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.]
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
THE COLD WAR WITH CHINA - INTERESTING TIMES 31
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
This podcast deals with economic, military and propaganda aspects of the developing cold war with China. [Free. 1 hour 25 minutes.]
Wednesday Feb 24, 2021
CORRUPTION, AUTHORITARIANISM, NUGATORY OPPOSITION - INTERESTING TIMES 24
Wednesday Feb 24, 2021
Wednesday Feb 24, 2021
In this podcast, I attempt to discern key revelations brought about by the UK High Court ruling that the government has been in breach of law regarding transparency around contracts for supply of PPE to health and care workers. At least two features of the UK government jump out; it's corruption and its authoritarian ambitions. Though this intervention by the judiciary is welcome, I question if it would be so if the UK was actually a democracy. Once again, the need for mass activism on a number of fronts recommends itself. [Free. 19 minutes.]
Monday Feb 15, 2021
FREUD'S INFLUENCE ON US GOVERNMENT & BUSINESS
Monday Feb 15, 2021
Monday Feb 15, 2021
This podcast ranges wide over the uses of Freud's insights for manipulating mass thinking and behaviour on behalf of the state and corporations. We review Adam Curtis' four part documentary The Century of the Self (2002), as a way in. There is particular focus on the work of Freud's nephew Bernays, the father of modern PR and advertising and author of Propaganda (1928). We also draw attention to philosophical problems with Freudianism, particularly those noted by Wittgenstein and Heidegger. Though standing alone, the podcast is also groundwork for future podcasts on the psychopathology of fascism.
The Century of the Self available on YouTube. Episode 1- https://youtu.be/DnPmg0R1M04
Friday Jan 01, 2021
LOOKING BACK OVER 2020 AND FORWARD TO 2021 - INTERESTING TIMES 19
Friday Jan 01, 2021
Friday Jan 01, 2021
On New Year's Day 2021, we pause to look both backwards and forwards. We identify and discuss four themes: the defeat of Trump and what that means for the global right Internationale, the fragmentation of the left and signs in movements around the world of its incipient re-emergence, the intensifying struggle to control information and particularly the internet, the impact of certain technological developments such as AI and CRISPR. We indicate how these developments are interlocked and how that points towards what is to be done. [Free. 47 minutes.]
Wednesday Dec 02, 2020
LAO TZU 31
Wednesday Dec 02, 2020
Wednesday Dec 02, 2020
This episode of our Lao Tzu series deals with Chapter 44 of the Tao Te Ching. This chapter urges us not to be too caught up the pursuit of wealth and status but to find peace in alignment with the Tao. [Free. 18 minutes.]
Thursday Nov 19, 2020
POST TRUTH THIS WEEK - INTERESTING TIMES 16
Thursday Nov 19, 2020
Thursday Nov 19, 2020
In this edition of our Interesting Times series, I consider three different manifestations of the widespread disregard for truth which is now a feature of our public discourse. These are Trump's refusal to concede the US Presidential election, the suspension, re-instatement and fresh suspension of Jeremy Corbyn from the UK Labour Party, and the increase in defence spending announced by UK PM Boris Johnson. [Free. 41 minutes.]
Monday Nov 16, 2020
WHAT IS FASCISM? 3 - THE CORPORATE-GOVERNMENTAL ECONOMY
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Monday Nov 16, 2020
In this podcast, I consider the proposition that the UK economy conforms to Mussolini's characterisation of fascism as the complete entanglement of corporate and state power. I do this through a close comparison of the corporate document produced by the Serco Institute, Lessons learned from the collapse of Carillion (2018) and the UK Government document The Outsourcing Playbook (2020). The resonance between the two documents is sufficient to intensify the suspicion that corporations and government are bed-fellows and dangerously so. A side-effect of this investigation is to reveal the purely ideological character of the Tory government's espousal of neoliberalism. [Free. 57 minutes.]
Friday Oct 23, 2020
REVOLVING DOORS & COSY CABALS - INTERESTING TIMES 12
Friday Oct 23, 2020
Friday Oct 23, 2020
In this podcast, I examine some current examples of the entanglement of state, media and corporate power in the UK. I focus on questions asked in parliament of The Secretary of State for Health by Richard Burgon MP about the role of outsourcing corporation Serco in the COVID 19 pandemic [asked on 16/10/20]. I particularly light upon the Minister of Health's former role as 'Serco's chief spin doctor' which looks like a classic case of the revolving door. I also draw attention to other examples of this phenomenon as well as drawing out the wide connections of The Prime Minister's new press secretary which suggest that a rather cosy cabal sits at the heart of government. [Free. 28 minutes.]