Heart Yoga Radio

RAW THOUGHT - BREXIT & COVIDIOCY

In this episode of RAW THOUGHT  we reflect on a couple of recent developments in current affairs, namely the state of Brexit negotiations and the arrest of 150 protesters against COVID19 restriction in London this weekend. [Patrons only. 34 minutes.] 

RAW THOUGHT - TORY UTOPIA

This patrons only episode of Raw Thought is a speculation on what utopian vision, or desired future, animates the current Tory Party and attempts to appraise the possibility of their realising it. [Patrons only. 48 minutes.]

POST TRUTH THIS WEEK - INTERESTING TIMES 16

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.]

WHAT IS FASCISM? 3 - THE CORPORATE-GOVERNMENTAL ECONOMY

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.]

TRUMP'S REFUSAL TO CONCEDE - INTERESTING TIMES 15

In this episode of Interesting Times we consider some of the details of Trump's refusal to conceded the US Presidential Election and his claim that he has been cheated. [Free. 34 minutes.]

RAW THOUGHT - BIDEN & BREXIT

An impromptu for our patrons, this podcast deals with the results of the US election and its possible impact on Brexit, amongst other things. [Patrons only. 39 minutes.]

US ELECTION AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE - INTERESTING TIMES 14

This brief episode of Interesting Times takes a  brief look the general chaos in the US and the UK before outlining the undemocratic nature of the US electoral college. [Free. 15 minutes.]

REVOLVING DOORS & COSY CABALS - INTERESTING TIMES 12

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.]

JOHNSON'S POST-TRUTH SPEECH TO TORY CONFERENCE - INTERESTING TIMES 11

In this podcast, I examine Boris Johnson's speech to the Tory Party Conference 2020. I identify several instance of incoherence within the speech. These concern the ostensible allegiance to private provision of public service which on examination is seen to obscure the actual entanglement of state and corporate power, the rhetorical reduction of the concept of freedom to a triviality, a scant regard for truth, a display of ignorance as to the nature of historical narrative, and, hoping no-one will notice, talking as though xenophobia and a concern for social justice can be reconciled, which they can't.  [Free. 34 minutes.]

WHAT IS FASCISM? 2 - THE PRESENT DAY UK & USA

In this podcast, I ask the question, "Are the US and UK fascist?" I attempt to address this question by checking if any of the features I identified in the first podcast of this series are observable in the current situations in the UK and the US. [I leave aside the matter of the economy for a future podcast.] I conclude that many of the elements of fascism are present and that some are venerable, others incipient and some are being actively cultivated. I suggest briefly what needs to be done about this dangerous situation. [Free. 1 hour 2 mins.]