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 thought...
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
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by James Booth, a progressive political consultant based in Washington DC who was most recently the Director of Paid Media Analytics on the Biden for President Campaign. James discusses his experience and expertise in data analysis, the importance of it in campaigning and in particular the reliance field organising has on data and the analysis of data in the work of organising. He details what data analytics looks like on the scale of a presidentia...
Apr 30, 2021•1 hr 20 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by the Federal Member for Cowan, Anne Aly. Anne details her incredible journey from Alexandria, Egypt, to Albury, Australia, as part of a young migrant family in a diverse, multicultural community, to her impeccable academic career studying at both the American University in Cairo, Egypt, and Edith Cowan University, WA. Anne weaves a fantastic story of identity and self discovery, one that would resonate with many first and second generation Austra...
Apr 23, 2021•47 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly handed the mic over this week to Ryan Batchelor from the McKell Institute for his interview with former ABC bureau chief in Washington DC, Zoe Daniel. Zoe discusses her new book “Greetings From Trumpland,” co written by ABC foriegn correspondent, Roscoe Whalan, and shares her thoughts on the impact Trump branded politics has had on the larger political spectrum and the world. Zoe muses on the media’s fixation on the former president, in particular Fox News, a...
Apr 16, 2021•56 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by Deputy Labor Leader and federal member for Corio, Richard Marles. Richard and Stephen discuss their top five favourite sporting moments, the intersection between sports and politics, and the state of federal politics heading into an election year. 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 community, business or organis...
Apr 09, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by the Jerusalem Correspondent for Plus61J Media, Ittay Flescher. Last week, Israeli’s returned to the polls for the fourth time in two years. Ittay discusses the fall out from the elections, unpacks the pro and anti Netanyahu blocks, could an Arab-Israeli party become the king maker, and how new Labor leader Merav Michaeli brought the party back from the brink to win 7 new seats in the Knesset. Ittay also reflects on the rise and fall of Labor and...
Apr 01, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was joined by organiser and Volunteer Coordinator for the PvdA, Dutch Labor Party, Nikki Gommers. Nikki gives us a rundown of the recent elections in the Netherlands and the campaigning tactics of the PvdA party, including the challenge of electing a new party leader in such a short time frame before the national election and campaigning during a pandemic. Nikki also gives us insight into her journey into campaigning, how other young Dutch people are involved...
Mar 25, 2021•48 min
