Heart Yoga Radio

IRAN-US-ISRAEL WAR [28-2-26] - INTERESTING TIMES 90

In this podcast, I try to find my way through the fog of the first day of war between US-Israel and Iran to describe and elucidate what is going on regarding the configuration of forces and military capabilities. I also examine briefly the role of the control of oil and of the vast  profits made by the military industrial complex in the context of the rise of China and BRICS and the decline of US hegemony. [Free. 33 minutes.]

GREENS WIN IN UK! - INTERESTING TIMES 89

In this podcast, I offer a contextual analysis of the Green Party's resounding win in the Gorton and Denton by-election in which a local working class, female plumber was elected to Parliament with a very decent majority over second place Reform, a fascist party aligned with Trumpism. Labour was relegated to third place having dominated in this region since 1932. I examine the intensifying rhetoric ay tricks aimed at the Greens as a result from both the far right and the technocratic Labour government. I argue that a seismic shift has occurred and celebration is in order, but only for a brief while before intense struggle resumes. [Free. 30 minutes.]

TRUMP STEALS GAZA - "THIS IS THE WORLD NAKED" - INTERESTING TIMES 87

In this podcast, I interpret Francesca Albanese's exclamation, on hearing Donald Trump call for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza in order that it might be reconstructed as desirable real estate, that "this is the world naked". I discuss the proposed annexation of Canada, Panama, and Greenland alongside the psychology of delusions of omnipotence and the MAGA cult. [Free. 29 minutes.]

AI, MONEY, TIME

Join me on my constitutional. In a somewhat rambling discourse, I examine an engagement with an AI on the subject of theories of money and, from there, proceed to take issue with 'technological solutionism' which suggests that technological advance of a certain kind is sufficient to solve humanity's pressing problems. Over and against this idea, I claim that technology can be immensely powerful and transformative, but is not sufficient to ensure human flourishing without the appropriate political and structural change to society. I illustrate the case with the empirical case of how massively enhanced technologically-facilitated productivity has not improved the lot of workers but has lead to the concentration of wealth and power in very few hands. I suggest the use of enhanced productivity and the ability to automate drudgery should be used to liberate time for people in general rather than serving the bottom line. [Free. 26 minutes.]

BILLIONAIRES: WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR?

Join me on my constitutional. I enquire into the matter of the extreme concentrations of wealth and power in the hands of a small number of billionaires and take issue with a couple of the regular justifications for this status quo. The first of these is the notion that if people can't get hyper-rich without restriction that that would be an affront to liberty. The second is the notion that the ability to accumulate vast amounts of wealth and power by a few somehow makes for dynamism and innovation which benefits everybody via trickle down. Beware! Contains utopian speculation. [Free. 31 minutes.]

LOOKING BACK OVER 2024 AND FORWARD TO 2025 - INTERESTING TIMES 85

In this podcast, I reflect on events of the past year, particularly with respect to ecological, economic, and cultural systems. I compare  my forward speculations of January 24 with events of the year itself. I also speculate on how the trends I identify might develop as 2025 unfolds. I ask if there are any hopeful signs and question what we can and should do. [Free. 69 minutes.] 

RIOTS IN THE UK BECOME ANTI-RACIST TRIUMPH - INTERESTING TIMES 82

In this podcast, I reflect on the recent riots in the UK and the various responses to them. [Free. 51 minutes.]

CHUANG TZU 2 - CUTTING UP AN OX

In this podcast, we discuss the Chapter of the Chuang Tzu entitled Cutting Up An Ox. In this chapter, we see the application of non-doing (wu wei) to a specific practical task and how it enables the highest degree of skill. We expand on Chuang Tzu's phenomenology of this application of wu wei. We discuss the application of this skill to creative as well as artisanal tasks, and also to meditation and living in general.  [Free. 53 minutes.]

A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR OUR FUTURE? - INTERESTING TIMES 70

In this podcast, we reflect on recent events in Gaza. We pay particular attention to huge pro-Palestine marches and demonstrations across the earth, as well as geo-political shifts that are taking place this moment. We plead for immediate ceasefire. [Free. 1 hour 6minutes.]

TORY CONFERENCE 23 - INCOMPETENCE, FRAGMENTATION AND MADNESS - INTERESTING TIMES 69

In this podcast, we reflect on widely reported items from the 2023 Tory Part Conference, and plug into some of the wider political and philosophical issues they give rise to. [Free. 42 minutes.]