Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by federal member for Lilley, Queenslander, Anika Wells, and federal member for Macnamara, Josh Burns once again for our annual Federal Politics Year in Review - 2021 edition. Together Anika and Josh unpack what has been an absolutely crazy year for Australian politics, starting with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as it rolled over from 2020 to 2021, followed by the revelations of the toxic culture towards women working in Federal Parliament, made s...
Dec 10, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Socially Democratic’s Pop Culture Correspondent, Tess Farrell for our annual Pop Culture Wrap Up. Stephen and Tess review HBO’s “White Lotus”, Disney’s “Only Murders in the Building”, HBO’s latest season of “Succession” (with Spoilers), and the latest Bond film to hit the big screen “No Time To Die” (with Spoilers!!!!!!!). In this monster wrap up episode, they discuss the strengths of these shows, what tanked and why, and which characters vote L...
Dec 03, 2021•1 hr 38 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Victorian State Premier Dan Andrews. With 12 months out from the 2022 State election, and as Victorians begin to enjoy the hard won freedoms following a winter lockdown, Premier Andrews reflects on the shared experiences of the Victorian community and the sacrifices they made over the past 2 years to enable us to come through this incredible challenge. He also talks about the critical role of community leadership, the rise of truth vs fiction in...
Nov 26, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by the National Secretary of the Transport Workers Union, Michael Kaine. Michael discusses how, with Australian states opening up post lockdowns, the Australian transport industry is in crisis and explains how international businesses like Amazon and Uber are exploiting Australian workers, enabled by existing archaic industrial regulations and laws. Michael explains how the TWU are taking the fight to Amazon, the gig economy, and the airline indust...
Nov 11, 2021•1 hr
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Washington DC based Democratic consultant and Obama campaign alum, Jonae Wartel. Inspired by the HBO documentary series “Obama: In pursuit of a more perfect union”, Jonae joins Stephen in revisiting the Obama years, reflecting on his legacy - in particular the impact the Obama campaign had on them both, and thousands like them, as emerging organisers. Jonae unpacks the 08 and 12 OFA campaigns and examines why they were so transformational for ma...
Oct 29, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by NSW Labor Leader and member for Kogarah, Chris Minns. Chris discusses his ascension to the leadership of the NSW Labor Party, his constructive and, at times, conciliatory approach to the role of opposition during the recent 108 day lockdown, and details what kind of leader he aims to be for the people of NSW. Chris also shares his thoughts on where the government failed in its duty to govern for all NSW citizens, how NSW Labor will contrast itse...
Oct 22, 2021•27 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by US politics regular Sam Schniedman. Off-cycle election season is in the air and Sam unpacks which races to keep an eye on this November, with a particular focus on Sam’s home state, Virginia. Sam breaks down the candidates running, the context in which these elections are taking place, and dives into the issues of the American economy, voter enthusiasm and Democrat’s legislative agenda and its impact on the election outcome. They also discuss th...
Oct 15, 2021•54 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by American researcher and data analyst, Will Cubbison. As a former researcher with the US based Analyst Institute and a wealth of experience campaigning around the world, Will shares his extensive knowledge of data analysis, political behaviour, and organising - including how to get people to vote and to adapt after a losing campaign, drawing from his experience from the Hillary 2016 campaign in particular. Now living in Israel, Will also shares h...
Oct 08, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by National President of Australian Young Labor, Ali Amin. Ali responds to John Curtin Research Centre executive director, Nick Dyrenfurth's assertion that Young Labor is “too like the Greens,” with a narrow inner-city, tertiary educated, middle-class membership lacking diversity. Ali shares his story from refugee to student activist fighting Chris Pine’s education cuts, to becoming the President of Australian Young Labor. He also gives his th...
Oct 01, 2021•57 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by National Assistant Secretary for Australian Labor, Jen Light. Jen discusses her journey in Labor politics, including moments in her life which shaped her interests and values as a social democrat, as well as her experience as an Organiser with Labor. Jen reflects on how young people engage with politics and gives her thoughts on how best to organise young Australians into democratic politics. And with the upcoming Federal Election approaching, J...
Sep 24, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by federal member for Griffith, Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water, and former Student Unity alum, Terri Butler. In the spirit of the Marshall Ganz teachings of Public Narrative and Story of Self, Terri discusses her journey from a kid growing up in FNQ to student activist (one for the stu-pol folks circa 1997), to lawyer and then public office. As it is Socially Democratic’s “Women in Politics” month, Terri discusses the landmark Respec...
Sep 17, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by the former Digital Manager for Premier Dan Andrews, now a Social Media, Digital Strategy & Content Consultant, Eloise Young. Eloise shares her journey into political digital communications and discusses how online strategy and comms has evolved, how it has become such a powerful engagement tool, how digital campaigning differs from the traditional means, and what makes a strong social media presence. Eloise draws from her wealth of experienc...
Sep 10, 2021•53 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Washington Bureau chief for the ABC, journalist, and author Zoe Daniel. Zoe discusses the current situation in Afghanistan as the US ends its 20 year war in the region and the relationship between journalists and the locals who risk life and limb to assist reporters in getting important stories out to the world. And, in celebration of the Melbourne Writers Festival, Zoe also discusses the evolution of journalism and writing in the social ...
Sep 03, 2021•46 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by senior public servant, policy expert and author, Andrew Wear. Andrew returns to the show to discuss his latest book, “Recovery: How we can create a better, brighter future after a crisis.” Andrew argues that Australia needs to lift its gaze beyond the pandemic and set up the foundations for a more prosperous and resilient future, anticipating future crises. And does so by analysing past examples of countries who have recovered and prospered afte...
Aug 27, 2021•48 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former ALP National Organiser and the current Labor MP for the Queensland state seat of Logan, Linus Power. Linus shares his thoughts on the Queensland experience of COVID, attitudes towards it’s recent outbreaks and lockdowns, and the handling of the pandemic by the Palaszczuk government. Stephen and Linus evaluate the contrasting performance of Labor in the Sunshine State at state and federal elections and the reasons why Labor has performed s...
Aug 20, 2021•59 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Australian trade union organiser - now based in New York and the National Political Coordinator for the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), Lawerence Ben. Lawrence discusses the recent RDWSU campaign to unionise Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama - a campaign which faced serious resistance, including union busting tactics and intimidation of workers at the ballot box, from management. He gives us an insight into the org...
Aug 13, 2021•55 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Assistant Secretary from the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Scott Connolly. Scott discusses the ACTU’s first virtual congress, and how the ACTU’s pushed the federal government into introducing Job Keeper and the need for Job Keeper 2.0. Scott also talks about the growth in union membership in various sectors, the fight to organise and advance wages and conditions for the expanding gig economy, and how unions are tackling global multinationa...
Aug 06, 2021•1 hr
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Federal Member for Bruce, Labor’s Julian Hill. Coming out of Melbourne’s 5th lockdown, Julian discusses Australia’s lacklustre vaccine rollout plan, with its shifting targets and mixed messaging, as we limp towards herd immunity and a “new normal.” He also reflects the absence of leadership from the Morrison government in implementing a national quarantine system, and how it has pitted the states against one another instead of uniting the countr...
Jul 30, 2021•49 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by the CEO of The McKell Institute, Michael Buckland. For our 100th episode, Michael discusses the current COVID outbreak in New South Wales, did the hubris of the Berejiklian Government lead to this NSW wave, and does the government have a clear plan to reduce the case numbers down to zero? Michael shares McKell research highlighting the social and economic impact of COVID, he discusses the federal government’s policy disaster that is the vaccine ...
Jul 23, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by the National Assistant Secretary, Julia Fox from the SDA - the only Union that represents retail, fast food and warehouse workers. Julia paints a bleak picture when discussing the impact covid, customer violence, gender inequality, delayed wage increases and sexual harassment has had on retail and fast food workers and what the SDA and its 210,000 members are doing to address it. The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn ...
Jul 16, 2021•58 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Organiser for OFA, former Senior Political Director for Color of Change, now running his own campaign/community organising consultancy - Kwesi Chappin On this July 4 long weekend, Kwesi discusses the United States of America post Trump and 6 months into the Biden presidency, unpacking various aspects of American life. From healthcare, democracy, infrastructure, employment, and justice, Kwesi gives his perspective as not only an American c...
Jul 08, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined again by Victorian Labor MP for the Eastern Region, and Socially Democratic staple, Harriet Shing. With Pride Month wrapping up for 2021, and recording on the 52nd anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Harriet reflects on the 2017 campaign for marriage equality, its roses and thorns. She discusses sexual empowerment in sports; how and why women lead the way forward and what is required to drive diversity in our parliament. Harriet also looks forward ...
Jul 01, 2021•56 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Labor’s Member for Bendigo East, Minister for Transport infrastructure, fellow Marist Brothers, and Latrobe Uni alumni, Jacinta Allan. Jacinta gives us an update on all the major transport infrastructure works being undertaken by the Victorian Labor government, including the Melbourne Metro project, Airport Rail Link, Suburban Rail Loop and the successful level crossing removal program. She also reflects on the Victorian Government’s COVID respo...
Jun 25, 2021•48 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined, once again, by former Obama organiser and local New Yorker, Sam Scheidman. Sam gives a speed dating style update on Tuesday’s New York City Mayoral Democratic primary election, including a rundown of the diverse boroughs of NYC, the candidates, and the issues shaping this hot contest. This is a particularly historic occasion as it is the first New York City election to elect a candidate by a ranked choice voting system, joining a handful of other ...
Jun 18, 2021•47 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Labor member for Batman, David Feeney. David unpacks Australia’s complex diplomatic relationship with China and the genesis of the diplomatic current brain-fart that led to the Morrison government picking a fight with a global superpower and critical trading partner. The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your com...
Jun 11, 2021•1 hr
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Socially Democratic’s Pop Culture Correspondent, Tess Farrell. Tess returns to the show to review Aaron Sorkin’s latest movie, The Trial of the Chicago 7, starring Sacha Baron Cohen. The 2020 Netflix special depicts the trial of anti-Vietnam War protestors charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines with the intention of inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Tess also shares her sage advice for surviving the latest Vict...
Jun 04, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Jerusalem based journalist for Plus 61J and Education Director for multi-faith community organisation, Kids for Peace - Jerusalem, Ittay Flescher. Ittay returns to Socially Democratic to break down the recent conflict between Israel and Palestine, giving the historical context to a highly complex and confronting dispute that led to the recent round of hostilities in the region. Shalom and Salam. To learn about interfaith organisations operating ...
May 28, 2021•59 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Obama organiser and Socially Democratic staple, Sam Scheidman. Sam returns to the show to discuss the first 100 days of the Biden presidency, evaluating his accomplishments thus far including the COVID response and stimulus plan. Sam and Stephen consider the fallout from the Jan 6 attempted coup on American democracy, the turmoil inside the Republican Party and what impact this will have on the 2022 midterms. The presenting sponsor of the...
May 21, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Director for Political Operations in the Blair Government, and Director of Communications for the Gillard Government, John McTernan. John discusses last week’s Holyrood elections in Scotland, where Labour had its worst-ever result with 22 seats, and the lowest share of the vote in both Constituency & List votes. John analyses the lingering fixation on Scottish independence and how it shaped the election, the challenge facing Labour’s ...
May 14, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by former federal Labor Minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments, Kate Ellis. Kate discusses her first book, “Sex, Lies, and Question Time,” a critical analysis and reflection from Ellis and 16 other political leaders across the political spectrum on the toxic culture in Canberra. She discusses why she broke her silence to write on this topic, what she learned from speaking to women politicians from across the political divide, why she intervie...
May 07, 2021•52 min
