Heart Yoga Radio

HELL IS OTHER PEOPLE?

In this podcast, I discuss the proposition that "Hell is other people" which is found in Sartre's play Hui Clos (1944). I draw on my own reflections, and the works of Freud and Hegel rather than closely following the original play. [Free. 22 minutes.]

EQUALITY, NIETZSCHE, SOCIAL DARWINISM

In this podcast, I take issue with a range of pleas for inequality in society. I examine the idea that inequality is "natural", and the mobilisation of Darwin's account of evolution to propagandise for that idea and find these wanting.  I criticise the notion that equality as a desideratum is inimical to freedom. I examine the way in which Nietzsche draws our attention to the undeniable variation in the endowments humans find themselves with and point the illogicality of what he makes of that fact, which is partly the result of failing to distinguish the variety of phenomena that the term "equality" refers to. I conclude that society should tend towards greater equality, repudiating caste society, eugenics and capitalism, and that this is necessary for human flourishing in freedom, and indeed survival. [Free. 22 minutes.]

OPTIMISM OF THE WILL, PESSIMISM OF THE INTELLECT - INTERESTING TIMES 80

In this podcast, I apply Gramsci's concepts of optimism of the will and pessimism of the intellect to some recent news items in order to expose the propaganda nature of their reporting by the BBC and other MSM, to expose the "common sense" and natural seeming language of the broadcasters, which however obscures reality whilst pretending to illluminate it.  [Free. 31 minutes.] 

"LIFE IS ONLY REDEEMED THROUGH ART" - HOW SO?

In this podcast, I reflect on Nietzsche's apercu that "life is only redeemed through art". I consider social, cultural, political and individual aspects of the question. I ask, what help, if any, such reflections might give us when we are faced with the necessity of changing our brutal reality which is that business as usual is not an option if we are to survive, let alone thrive. [Free. 25 minutes.]

WHAT IS FASCISM? 4 - SATURN EATS HIS SON & THE DEATH INSTINCT

In this wide-ranging podcast, I interpret Goya's painting of the early 1820s, Saturn Eating His Son. This leads me to considerations of Freud's notion of Thanatos or the death instinct, Nietzsche's readings of human cruelty and its relationship to the will to power, current affairs and recent history, particularly with respect to all too common orgies of depraved destruction of life. I describe how the death instinct and the possibility of joy in cruelty are mobilsed by the rich and powerful in pursuit of their own agenda. [Free. 24 minutes.]

CAMPUS BUMS OR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE? ON STUDENT PROTESTS - INTERESTING TIMES 79

In this podcast, I take issue with Professor Steven Pinker's take on the campus protests now spreading through the student body in the USA as revealed by an interview he did with the Radio 4 Today Programme this morning. I also tease out historical resonances with the student unrest that was, like the current protests, also initiated at Columbia University in 1968 and which subsequently spread across the world and signalled the demise of the Vietnam War. For what it's worth, I offer encouragement and advice to students participating in the protests and sketch the argument for their absolute necessity. [Free. 28 minutes.]

DODGY DAVE? - INTERESTING TIMES 78

In this podcast, I engage with the UK's Foreign Secretary's pronouncements on the Iranian missile attack on Israel. I argue that the FS' reflections are contradictory and incoherent and reflect the deep dysfunctionality at the heart of UK politics, culture, social arrangements and education system. [Free. 17 minutes.]

RETALIATION - INTERESTING TIMES 77

In this podcast, I reflect on Iran's retaliatory drone attack on Israel, which we expected in the previous podcast and which subsequently happened. I examine configurations in the region which may lead to further escalation and the ramifications globally should this happen. I also consider the authoritarianism in the West, which is growing rapidly, seemingly as a concomitant of the increasing tension in the Middle East. In particular, I consider the UK Labour Party's disgusting stance on the matter and the twisted response of the German State to pro-Palestinian protest and activism. I conclude that revolution is the only option for ordinary people to secure a decent future for themselves and their children. [Free. 21 minutes.]

THE DIN OF RATTLING SABRES - INTERESTING TIMES 76

In this podcast, I reflect on growing geo-political tensions around Iran's intent to retaliate against Israel's attack on its Damascus embassy in which several prominent members of Iran's military were assassinated. I include in my considerations some of the cultural effects of these developments in the UK, particularly the calls for conscription, Labour's intent to increase spending on the military should it gain power, and its full embrace of nukes. Throughout, I use some previous considerations developed on this channel of the several crucial features of historical fascism as a lens with which to gain purchase on these matters. [Free. 17 minutes.]

MUSIC - UP THROUGH THE WOODS

Guitar improvisation [Free. 4 mins 41 secs]