Heart Yoga Radio

TORY BY- ELECTION TROUNCING - INTERESTING TIMES 46

In this podcast, we discuss the various ramifications of the Tory loss of a 23k majority in a seat they have held since 1832 in yesterday's by-election brought about by the resignation of Owen Patterson. [Patterson's resignation is described and analysed in our podcast Interesting Times 41.] We enjoy a little Schadenfreude  as we proceed. [Free. 30 minutes.]

SCHRODINGER‘S PARTY - INTERESTING TIMES 44

In this podcast we consider the infamous party which both happened and didn't happen at the same time at 10 Downing Street on December 18th 2020. If it did happen [even though it didn't], a number of government ministers are ready to reassure the public that no COVID19 lock-down rules were broken with comical results. We examine the context of this spooky event in a cabal of government-right wing press connections, in the leaking of a video of the PM's press spokeswoman rehearsing how she might spin awkward questions about the event,  in Johnson's apology to the Commons, and in the general propaganda system within which our ruling elites operate. We appraise the possibility that this shit storm may have cut through to the public consciousness. [Free. 43 minutes.]

ECONOMIC COLLAPSE IN THE UK & BEYOND - PART3 [THE FUTURE]

This podcast continues our series on economic collapse. It considers what the future might involve using the COP26 climate change conference as an indicator and focussing on economic, ecological and cultural systems. [Free. 1 hour 17 minutes.]

TORY SLEAZE - INTERESTING TIMES 41

In this podcast, we take a look at the resignation of Owen Patterson in the wake of the government U-turn on standards of behaviour for MPs, particularly with respect to paid lobbying. We place this in the context of the gradual turning up of the heat of criticism of Boris Johnson and his cabal by the right wing media and the grooming of Starmer by both Murdoch and the Mail. [Free. 30 minutes.]

ADVENTURES IN THE TWITTERVERSE - IMPENDING REVOLUTION?

In this podcast, we consider the uses and dangers of social media for arriving at an ongoing understanding of our world. We particularly examine the zone of rage which is Twitter and a few current issues that are making a splash there. These are; outrage at the UK government changing the rules for investigating and sanctioning MPs' misconduct so that a Tory MP gets away with earning £100k per year for lobbying (allegedly), that there is widespread anger at the government voting to allow pollution of UK rivers and the sea, that there are many personal reports of depression at the general withering of hope as a direct consequence of Tory rule, and that the COP26 is so far merely dispensing 'greenwash'. In passing, we mourn the death or adequationist truth.[Free. 31 minutes.]

ECONOMIC COLLAPSE IN THE UK & BEYOND - PART 2b [THE PRESENT]

In this episode of our series on the possibility of economic collapse in the UK and beyond, we examine the degradation of the ecosphere and its relationship to the economy and culture. [Free. 1 hour 7 minutes.]

WELSH LABOUR - A GLIMMER OF HOPE

In this podcast, we take a brief look at a couple of the interesting and hopeful initiatives of the Senedd Cymru [The Welsh Parliament] which is currently under Labour Party control. These are the Well-Being of Future Generations Act of 2015 which requires public bodies to consider the long term consequences of their actions, and The One Planet Development initiative which  encourages ecologically sustainable development. [Free. 27 minutes.]

AFGHANISTAN, GEO-POLITICS, HISTORY - INTERESTING TIMES 42

This podcast gives our initial take on the recent take over of Afghanistan by the Taliban as US and NATO military withdraw after 20 years of occupation. We place the events in the systemic contexts of geo-politics and history and expose the hypocrisy of UK and US media and politicians who would cease to ally with Saudi Arabia if they really did care and women's emancipation from oppressive regimes. NB don't miss the short in-door addendum at the end. [Free.  34 minutes.]

GB NEWS & TOXIC 'FREEDOM' - INTERESTING TIMES 40

In this podcast, we discuss two recent events on GB News TV station which reveal the employment of a toxic and incoherent notion of freedom which is regularly employed by neo-liberal propaganda. These are Nigel Farage's take on the RNLI rescuing migrant in the English channel and Neil Oliver's claim that his freedom may rightly entail others' exposure to COVID infection. We contrast this with a notion of freedom which is grounded in the psychological, cultural, economic and social systems any desirable good is embedded in. [Free.  46 minutes.]

SAVAGE JAVID'S RANDIAN FANTASY - INTERESTING TIMES 38

In this podcast we comment on the state of the Tory Cabinet as members are 'pinged' as  a result of the Secretary of Sate for Health testing positive for COVID19 on the eve of 'free-dumb day'. We focus on contradictions within the right as authoritarian social conservatism vies with libertarian-libertinism for dominance and powerful opportunists attempt to face both ways. In this context we examine Javid's espousal of Randianism. [Free. 35 minutes.]