Laura Flanders and Friends: Solutions-Focused Progressive Perspectives on Politics, News, and Culture - podcast cover

Laura Flanders and Friends: Solutions-Focused Progressive Perspectives on Politics, News, and Culture

Laura Flanders, Curious Communicationswww.lauraflanders.org
Uncensored history meets bold voices with Laura Flanders, award winning journalist and author. The show explores actionable models for creating a better world by reporting on the people and movements driving systemic change. We spotlight the solutions of tomorrow, today. The show airs on PBS stations in over 300 US markets, and airs on 60+ community radio stations via PRX Exchange and Pacifica, and is available on YouTube and here as a podcast. Subscribers receive lots of video and audio web exclusives in addition to the weekly episode. Recent field reports and specials include: Jimmy Carter; 60th Anniversary of Selma Bloody Sunday March; Bernie Sanders' Fighting Oligarchy; Labor Movement vs. Fascism: Worker Organizers & Teachers Under Attack; And interviewee highlights include Award Winning Actor, Director, Writer, Liev Schreiber on his documentary "Meeting Zelensky"; Award winning journalists Maria Hinojosa (Award Winning Suave Podcast and host of Latino USA) & Chenjerai Kumanyika (Award Winning Podcast Series Empire City) on Forced Removals, Foreign Detention, the War on Education & Free Speech; Democracy & Capitalism: A Failed Experiment? with Bloomberg Economist & host of Truponomics, Stephanie Flanders; Masha Gessen & Jason Stanley on fascism then and now; Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor on the arc of history and “End Times Fascism”; Congressman Jamie Raskin on Donald Trump, Elon Musk, DOGE, and congressional oversight of the executive branch."
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Episodes

From Farm To Coop To Table: Food Justice in Urban Agriculture

Holiday Rewind. Food — from where it grows, to where it goes, all of it matters to our bodies and our communities. A conversation about how farmers are creating equitable food systems inside cities, from urban agriculture to worker-owned cooperatives. Guests: Susan Chin-Design Trust, Karen Washington- Rise & Root Farm and Ysanet Batista- Woke Foods . +Excerpts from Peter Coffin's "Music for Plants" Support theLFShow, 10 Years of Making Power Through Media! Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: La...

Dec 26, 201831 minEp. 226

Hallelujah Farewell: Chris Hedges and Reverend Billy

Farewell to America, or just to this year? This week, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Chris Hedges explains why President Donald Trump is just the predictable end of a long sad history of American avarice and greed. Then, Reverend Billy celebrates the season with not buying, but boisterous singing. Hear what happened when he and his partner Savitri D. did bid farewell to America and took their riotous rituals to Europe. Support theLFShow , 10 Years of Making Power Through Media! Laura Flanders and...

Dec 19, 201829 minEp. 225

F-Word: In the French Yellow Vests Murdoch Finds a Movement to Like

"By many accounts Macron's paying the price not so much for taxing carbon as for ignoring inequality and passing tax breaks for the rich, while pushing more austerity on people already at breaking point." Laura Flanders, weekly commentary. Our goal is to thrive, not just survive. By becoming a member, you sustain our independent, and grassroots-driven content! Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior P...

Dec 12, 20183 min

Showing Up for Racial Justice and Arts Activism at the US-MX Border

Looking back on the midterm elections, we ask the tough questions about white women voters and race, then get introduced to the hi-pinky salute across the border. We meet the co-founders of SURJ, Showing up for Racial Justice , and speak with Grammy Award Winner Arturo O’Farrill . Music spotlight “Line in the Sand” from “ Fandango at the Wall : A Soundtrack for the United States, Mexico and Beyond” by Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra . Support theLFShow , 10 Years of Making Pow...

Dec 12, 201832 minEp. 224

Food Justice Is About Everything We Do

Where do we begin to think about food? Is it about how we grow it, how we eat it, or who has access to it? Isn't it all of it? However you put it, food is as political as it gets. Today, we'll hear from farmers, organizers, workers, and seed-keepers who all attended the NESAWG conference on food justice in late October. Among them, Leah Penniman whose beautiful new book, Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm's Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land , is out now. Thanks to Cheyenna Weber, consul...

Dec 05, 201830 minEp. 223

F-Word: HUD Official to Move into Public Housing?

HUD NY official Lynne Patton is planning on moving into NYCHA projects, but why not move big money OUT of housing instead? Make a year end donation . Support 10 years of the Laura Flanders Show. Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design...

Dec 04, 20183 min

F-Word: Amazon Gives to End Homelessness? That’s Rich

The F-Word, Laura Flanders' weekly commentary. Our goal is to thrive, not just survive. By becoming a member, you sustain our independent, and grassroots-driven content! Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-...

Nov 27, 20183 min

Building Power Through Media: Radio Kingston and DeRay Mckesson

For many, mass movements have made them aware of media's failure to inform and represent them. Activists are now working to make their own media, and to rebuild traditional empowering media infrastructures. This week, we re-visit Radio Kingston , a station connecting communities and lifting up voices. Than joining Laura in studio, activist DeRay Mckesson, Pod Save the People host and author of ‘On the Other Side of Freedom’. Support theLFShow , make a year end donation! Laura Flanders and Friend...

Nov 27, 201829 minEp. 222

Divest to Decolonize: Michelle Cook and Hartman Deetz

As family and friends celebrate and give thanks, for indigenous peoples around the world perhaps apologies, even recompense, would be more in order. We’ll hear from Native American activists Michelle Cook and Hartman Deetz about the ongoing struggle for autonomy and environmental protection. Then our report on the thousand people in attendance at the American Museum of Natural History on Indigenous Peoples Day organized by Decolonize This Place. Music Spotlight: “Retribution” by Tanya Tagaq on S...

Nov 21, 201829 minEp. 221

F-Word: From Voting to Wealth Building for Native Americans

Building a new economy for and by Native Americans requires election level attention beyond election week. That new book out from the Democracy Collective, "An Indigenous Approach to Community Wealth Building: A Lakota Translation". Our goal is to thrive, not just survive. By becoming a member, you sustain our independent, and grassroots-driven content! www.LauraFlanders.org/donate Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jer...

Nov 20, 20184 min

Catastrophes, Cooperatives, and Capital

Six years ago Superstorm Sandy hit, Lorena Giron and Brendan Martin of The Working World, an organization focused on starting and sustaining cooperatives in low-income communities, reports on the WORC's that emerged out of the devastation. And noted Marxist geographer and anthropologist, David Harvey . Music Spotlight: “New Laughter Mode (The Way In)” by Laraaji and Audio Active. November 27th join Laura & guests - New Economy Screenings: Survival Socialism Support theLFShow Laura Flanders a...

Nov 14, 201831 minEp. 220

F-Word: WTF White Women?

"The particular patriarchs whom white women have put in office this November are on the record, anti-female. They’re even anti-white-female, if you happen to be pregnant or foreign-born, or poor or in imperfect health." Our goal is to thrive, not just survive. By becoming a member, you sustain our independent, and grassroots-driven content! www.LauraFlanders.org Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior...

Nov 09, 20184 min

Resistance: The Ballot and The Bullhorn

From no, I won't to yes, we will. It’s official a record breaking number of women have won seats in Congress. Over a hundred women, more women than ever, were voted in including New Mexico’s Deb Halland and Sharice Davids, the Congress’ first 2 Native American women, and Davids is the first out lesbian Native American too. As anticipated, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a socialist Democrat, is now Congresswoman of New York. With the midterms behind us we’re looking at the roots of struggle for good g...

Nov 07, 201830 minEp. 219

F-Word: Hate Speech at Homeland Security

Someone scrawled KILL N@%gers on the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York this week, not thirty five feet from the headquarters of the Department of Homeland Security, ICE and the FBI. Our goal is to thrive, not just survive. By becoming a member , you sustain our independent, and grassroots-driven content! Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor,...

Nov 02, 20183 min

Can a Progressive Candidate Win in Rural America?: Anthony Flaccavento

Anthony Flaccavento is running for the US House seat in Virginia's 9th district, a large, sparsely populated region in the southwestern corner of the state. We'll meet the people working on his grassroots campaign, a coalition of farmers, miners, students, seniors and activists that may serve as a practical blueprint for many Democrats competing in so-called "Red States". Music featured, Appalachian artist Nora Jane Struthers singing “Champion” to the tree sitters in the woods of Elliston, Virgi...

Oct 31, 201829 minEp. 218

F-Word: Is Donald Trump Responsible For Violence? Absolutely

Is Donald Trump responsible for unhinged violence against innocent people? Absolutely. You only have to look at Yemen to see that. Our goal is to thrive, not just survive. By becoming a member , you sustain our independent, and grassroots-driven content! Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Direct...

Oct 26, 20184 min

Kingston Calling: Making Media Into Action

For many, mass movements have made them aware of media's failure to inform and represent them. Activists are now working to make their own media, and to rebuild the empowering media infrastructures that have existed previously. This week, we visit a local, innovative radio station in Kingston, NY and talk to Pod Save the People's DeRay Mckesson, activist and author, about how he's turned social media into social justice. Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer;...

Oct 24, 201828 minEp. 217

The Next Economy: Worker-Led, for Public Interest

10 years since the financial crash we've learned that there exists in the US not just one economy, but many, as well as many kinds of economic actors. From platform cooperatives to cryptocurrency, people are continuously building economic alternatives. So says Nathan Schneider , crusader for collective ownership and author of "Everything for Everyone: the Radical Tradition That Is Shaping The Next Economy." Plus, professor and author Virginia Eubanks on how government and corporations are erasin...

Oct 17, 201831 minEp. 209

F-Word: Fighting Chance in Virginia’s Fighting 9th

"For a while last week, I thought I was in the wrong place. While the nation’s eyes were on the Kavanaugh hearings, I was in southwest Virginia, with a congressional campaign in rural America that big donors and DC Democrats don’t seem to care that much about." _Our goal is to thrive, not just survive. By becoming a member , you sustain our independent, and grassroots-driven content! _ Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer;...

Oct 12, 20184 minEp. 208

Food Justice in Urban Agriculture

Food --- from where it grows, to where it goes, all of it matters to our bodies and our communities. We begin October with a conversation about how farmers are creating equitable food systems inside cities, from urban agriculture to worker-owned cooperatives. Guests: Susan Chin- Design Trust , Karen Washington- Rise & Root Farm and Ysanet Batista- Woke Foods . +Excerpts from Peter Coffin's "Music for Plants" Support theLFShow Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer...

Oct 10, 201831 minEp. 207

Transformative Cities: Crisis and Opportunity in Amsterdam

"Cities accumulate capital, people, aspirations, and power. But, whose power? Whose aspirations? How can we find in the city a place of possibility?" These are the questions from Laura Flanders' opening statements at the Transnational Institute 's convening on Transformative Cities in Amsterdam during July 2018. Music spotlight: disco remake of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" by Jason Eli Featuring Nathan Haines-Flute/Horns & Cherie Mathieson-vocals. Support theLFShow Laura Flanders and Fr...

Oct 03, 201828 minEp. 206

F-Word: It’s Time to call #TimesUp on Standing Alone

"September 28, when a woman, Ana Maria Archila , stuck her foot in the door of an elevator and gave Republican Jeff Flake, a potential swing voter, a talking-to, and kept that foot in that door so that another woman, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, could do the same, as the cameras rolled, live. The video went viral." _Our goal is to thrive, not just survive. By becoming a member , you sustain our independent, and grassroots-driven content! _ Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive ...

Sep 28, 20183 minEp. 205

Imara Jones: Transgender Narratives Are Expansive

Despite efforts over the last two years to curtail progress for trans people by the current administration, trans activism has gained momentum and become prominent within the movement for queer justice. Laura speaks with Imara Jones, a trans activist, former policymaker, and host of The Last Sip on Free Speech TV about her work to amplify transgender narratives, on and off the screen. Music featured: Anohni of Antony & the Johnson's "Everything Is New" from the film “Turning” created in coll...

Sep 26, 201828 minEp. 204

F-Word: 10 Years on, The End of Capitalism is Easier to Imagine

'Not long after the financial crash of 2008, I heard someone say, “It’s easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism.” Is it?' Our goal is to thrive, not just survive. By becoming a member , you sustain our independent, and grassroots-driven content! Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Ho...

Sep 21, 20184 minEp. 203

Unsung: Puerto Rican People's Power #1YearAfterMaria

The Trump administration claims its response to Hurricane Maria was a "tremendous," "unsung" success. Yet, what has been truly tremendous since the hurricane is the will of Puerto Ricans building, organizing, and recovering . Reporting from CommonBound , Laura speaks to Edgar Gomez, a city official of Toa Baja, PR & education activists from the island, Ana Yris Guzman Toress-Nuestra Escuela & Nicolle Teresa Ramos-Universidad Sin Fronteras. Music: "We Rising Up" Climbing PoeTree . Support...

Sep 19, 201828 minEp. 202

F-Word: Inclusive Design and Me

"This particular plaque for my father made me think about something else too. If it wasn't for inclusive design, I literally would not exist." Check out our SPECIAL REPORT: Ableism Out, Independent Living Now! Our goal is to thrive, not just survive. By becoming a member , you sustain our independent, and grassroots-driven content! Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Vid...

Sep 14, 20183 minEp. 201

Education Activists Back To School With A Test for Devos

2018 has been a year of upheaval for students, in and out of the classroom. This week educators and education activists talk about educational justice, teaching in Trump times, and taking stock of the current state of education. We're joined by Natasha Capers, of the NYC Coalition for Educational Justice ; Adam Sanchez, of Rethinking Schools & Zinn Education Project ; and José Luis Vilson, of EduColor . Music Featured: "Could It Be” by Black Milk, Mass Appeal & “Don’t Believe the Hype” b...

Sep 12, 201828 minEp. 200

SPECIAL REPORT: Ableism Out, Independent Living Now!

On July 26th, marked the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Thousands of disability activists, including many of those who made this civil rights landmark a reality, convened at the National Council on Independent Living’s (NCIL) 2018 Annual Conference. ​Celebrating ​#ADA28 alongside disability activists​ allows us to revisit the story of how disability came to be a civil right, even as it was pathologized and co-opted into ableist narratives. How can we make this not...

Sep 05, 201828 minEp. 199

Democratizing Wealth, Expanding Power - The Preston Model

Laura reports on a transatlantic experiment in cooperative community wealth building. In Preston, Lancashire, England, a formerly industrial city, the birthplace of the industrial revolution in many ways, they’ve seen ten years of austerity and partly out of need, and partly out of aspiration they’re practicing, experimenting, with a new model, the Preston model, and it’s inspired by a model in another formerly industrialized city: Cleveland, Ohio, the Evergreen Cooperative model. Check out part...

Aug 28, 201829 minEp. 198

Outsider Power Shifts Insider Politics, Maurice Mitchell, Working Families Party

Social movements and party politics - inherently at odds or natural allies? This week, in his first in-depth TV appearance, Maurice Mitchell, the new National Director of the Working Families Party , joins us in studio. Laura and Maurice discuss his activist background, the WFP's national and international vision, and how the organization is tackling this midterm election year. Music: “I Want to Believe” by UNA from their album "Noise of the Wing". Support theLFShow Laura Flanders and Friends Cr...

Aug 22, 201829 minEp. 197
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