Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Ardern Chief of Staff and Director at Capital NZ, Neale Jones. Neale returns to Socially Democratic to discuss the resignation of New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern and the factors that contributed to this shock decision. They discuss her replacement Chris Hipkins, his politics, his strengths and weaknesses and what it all means in the lead up to New Zealand's general election in October this year. The presenting s...
Feb 09, 2023•59 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by the Senior Policy & Advocacy Advisor for Vacro, Abigail Lewis. Abigail discusses her journey into policy advocacy, breaks down the current challenges with the Victorian justice system, and how organisations like Varco are championing new ideas towards building a justice system that is equitable and yields better outcomes for our society. Vacro is one of Victoria’s oldest community organizations and the state's on...
Feb 02, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by CEO of VACCHO and proud Gunditjmara woman, Aunty Jill Gallager AO. In the lead up to the Referendum for Voice to Parliament, Aunty Jill joins the show to break down the journey to this historic moment. She discusses how we move past current controversies around “details” and how we can learn from the incredible progress made by Aboriginal leadership and government on the path to Treaty here in the great state of Victoria....
Jan 26, 2023•48 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Unions NSW Assistant Secretary Thomas Costa. Thomas discusses Unions NSW successful Combined Rail Unions campaign across the NSW public transport sector; an 18 month long dispute with the NSW state government which came to a head in November last year. As the lead negotiator, Thomas breaks down the campaign, the challenges they faced - from management’s delaying tactics to switching to online negotiations during COVID loc...
Jan 19, 2023•1 hr 20 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Victorian Premier, Dan Andrews. Fresh from his third successful state election victory, Dan returns to Socially Democratic to discuss the campaign, election night, and how Victorian Labor plans to keep delivering for all Victorians. 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 o...
Jan 12, 2023•1 hr 20 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Socially Democratic’s Pop Culture Correspondent, Tess Farrell for our annual Pop Culture Wrap Up. Returning to the airwaves for the first time in 2023, Stephen and Tess give spoiler free reviews of their favourite shows and movies of 2022, including “Dopesick”, “The Dropout” (both on Hulu here in Australia), and “Maverick”. Tess also gives her recommendations for essential summer viewing. The presenting sponsor of the Soc...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by David Kitching for our annual International Politics Year in Review - 2022 edition. David joins Stephen for our annual International Year in Review episode, to unpack the key moments in global politics that shaped 2022. David discusses the elections in Europe and Brazil, the conflict in Ukraine, women’s rights with the overturning of Roe v Wade/Dobbs and the protests in Iran, the real impact of climate change, and more. D...
Dec 20, 2022•1 hr 10 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing, for our annual State Politics Year in Review - 2022 edition. Harriet is back for Socially Democratic’s annual tradition, unpacking the year in politics in the most progressive state for 2022. She gives us an update on her donkey’s before breaking down the key takeaways of Victorian politics, including the Victorian State election. Harriet also, of course, nominated her State Lab...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 3 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by federal member for Lilley, Queenslander, Anika Wells, and federal member for Macnamara, Josh Burns for our annual Federal Politics Year in Review - 2022 edition. Josh and Anika keep the Socially Democratic annual tradition alive for the third year in a row. Together they unpack the year that was 2022, and boy, it was a big one. They discuss the Federal Election, which saw not only the return of a Labor government, but an ...
Dec 08, 2022•42 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined once again by Executive Director for Per Capita, Emma Dawson, and former Federal Member for Batman, David Feeney, for Socially Democratic’s Post 2022 VIC ELECTION review! Emma and David are back for the final time in 2022 to break down the results from Saturday’s election, including how Labor’s coalition of voters delivered again, quality candidates made the difference, how the Greens and Teals failed, how the media and poli...
Dec 01, 2022•1 hr 26 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined again by Executive Director for Per Capita, Emma Dawson, and former Federal Member for Batman, David Feeney, for Socially Democratic’s 2022 VIC ELECTION ELECTION EVE WRAP! Emma and David are back again to prepare you all for the big day on Saturday when Victoria decides. This week the pair break down the final stretch as both parties get ready for Saturday, the Sky News Debate between Dan Andrews and Matthew Guy, which battl...
Nov 24, 2022•1 hr 21 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined again by Executive Director for Per Capita, Emma Dawson, and former Federal Member for Batman, David Feeney, for Socially Democratic’s second weekly recap of the 2022 Victorian State election campaign. Emma and David return for week 2 of Socially Democratic’s weekly wraps of the 2022 Victorian State Election Coverage. This week, the pair break down: Sunday’s campaign launch by Labor and the Tories, and wonder how Matthew Guy...
Nov 17, 2022•1 hr 1 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Democratic consultant and former campaign manager for the successful 2021 Georgia Senate run-offs, Jonae Wartel. Following up from last month's Midterms preview, Jonae is back to unpack the results. She breaks down the key wins and losses, where the voters turned out, and how the Democrats managed to maintain the Senate and stave off a wipe out in the House (a historical result for Democrats). Jonae also looks forwar...
Nov 16, 2022•58 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Executive Director for Per Capita, Emma Dawson, and former Federal Member for Batman, David Feeney, for Socially Democratic’s first weekly recap of the 2022 Victorian State election campaign. Emma and David are back! And they join Stephen in unpacking the state election campaign thus far, breaking down the latest policy announcements, polls, and media meltdown. Socially Democratic’s 2022 State Election coverage continues ...
Nov 10, 2022•1 hr 19 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Irish based communications, advocacy, research, policy consultant, David Kitching. It’s been a minute since we checked in with how things are going on in the UK and, boy, has a lot changed. Thankfully, David returns to the show to fill us in on the revolving door of Prime Ministers the British have had in the past few months and the broader implications this has had on UK politics. David shares his thoughts on the events ...
Nov 06, 2022•1 hr 6 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Head of Government and External Engagement at UNICEF Australia, Elliot Stein. Elliot joins the show to break down the Albanese government’s first Federal Budget, cos that’s what you get to do when you win elections. Elliot unpacks the key details of the budget and what implications it will have on the Australian economy as we negotiate uncertain economic conditions heading into 2023. The presenting sponsor of the Socially...
Oct 28, 2022•59 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Democratic consultant and former campaign manager for the successful 2021 Georgia Senate run-offs, Jonae Wartel Jonae provides us with her insider preview on the Democrats prospects in the upcoming Midterm elections this November. With less than 18 days till polling day, Jonae discusses the impact the Biden administration’s recent policy wins (and promises kept) will have on voter turnout and if the controversies from the...
Oct 21, 2022•53 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Assistant to the President at the Retail, Wholesale Department Store Union (RWDSU), Jessica Garcia. In a follow up to last year’s episode with Lawrence Ben on the union’s campaign to unionise an Amazon warehouse in Alabama, Jessica fills us in on the progress the union has made in its campaign to help Amazon workers unionise. Jessica also discusses the union’s work with NY agricultural workers, cannabis workers in the new...
Oct 14, 2022•52 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Obama Speechwriter, Terry Szuplat. Terry discusses his upbringing in Massachusetts, in particular his introduction to speech writing via a JFK speech compilation gifted to him by his mother, and how it influenced him to become a voice for others. He details how he crafts speeches for many different people, most notably President Barack Obama during his tenure, and how stories can influence and inspire people in eve...
Oct 05, 2022•56 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Australian writer, activist, and co-host of the weekly podcast Week on Wednesday, Van Badham. Van discusses her time in student politics and how these wild experiences influenced her evolution into a successful activist, playwright, and journalist. She chats about her work researching conspiracy theories and, in celebration of the Melbourne Writers Festival, which kicks off this week, about her bestselling non-fiction boo...
Sep 15, 2022•1 hr 21 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by the National Secretary of the Transport Workers Union, Michael Kaine. Qantas is regarded as a cultural icon and for many a source of national pride. However, under the leadership of Alan Joyce, the red roo’s reputation has been tarnished with cuts to staff, outsourcing to labour hire, all the while taking pandemic payments and dishing out directors bonuses. On this week’s episode Michael returns to discuss how Qantas’ got...
Sep 08, 2022•49 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by the director of the Sydney Policy Lab at the University of Sydney, Kate Harrison Brennan. Does Labor have a “religion” problem? And does the Church have a problem with politics? Kate draws from her experience in public policy and leading christian organisations to unpack these questions and explore the historic and at times disconnected relationship between people of faith, their institutions and the world of politics. Th...
Sep 01, 2022•51 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Associate Professor in the Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy at La Trobe University, Dr Andrea Carson. Andrea returns to the show to break down the Australian Media's performance and its role within the Federal Election, as she did back in 2019, except this time after a victory. Andrea shares her expertise on the media and the role that it plays in politics, discusses the accuracy of the polls, and how the...
Aug 25, 2022•1 hr 10 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Senator for Victoria, Jana Stewart. Jana shares her story, from growing up in Swan Hill to working with the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Nat Hutchins. The Senator explains how her life experiences and family influences shaped her into the proud Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman she is today. Outlining her goals as a new Senator, she discusses her areas of policy focus i...
Aug 18, 2022•54 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Democratic campaign strategist and organizer, Katie Parsons. Katie calls in from Chicago, IL to breakdown the last few months of politics in the United States. Starting with the Supreme Court’s latest Dobbs v Jackson ruling, she unpacks the reversal of Roe v Wade and the national response, including the amazing turn out of Kansan voters who voted to protect abortion rights in their state. She also discusses why, despite t...
Aug 11, 2022•1 hr 7 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by the freshly re-elected member for MacNamara, Labor’s Josh Burns. Josh joins Stephen to give a brief post election debrief, mainly how the close race for the seat of MacNamara was won and how he correctly predicted Labor winning the seat of Higgins, followed by a recap of the first sitting week of parliament under the Albanese government. Josh unpacks the goings on of the sitting week, including the first speeches from new...
Aug 05, 2022•47 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by two former Victorian ALP branch secretaries, Erik Locke and David Feeney. Erik and David break down the findings and recommendations from the Bracks/Macklin review into branch stacking, cultural and structural reform and where Labor failed to act. They unpack last week’s final report by the IBAC/Ombudsman and their public investigation into the misuse of public monies within ministerial and electorate offices following th...
Jul 29, 2022•1 hr 7 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Betoota Advocate and Decode’s Wendell Hussey. Wendell chats about the Betoota Advocate and their rise from rural conservative newspaper to national media juggernaut. He discusses how Betoota’s new podcast, “Decode”, aims to break down federal politics for everyday Australians who want something a little bit different. Wendell also talks about how the media covered the federal election, how the mainstream platforms need to...
Jul 21, 2022•35 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Chairwoman for the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA), Esther-Mirjam Sent. Esther shares how she was raised in a political household, her parents sharing their passion for activism with her, as well as how exploring her interest in economics led to a career in the Dutch government and into the role of Chairwoman of the PvdA. Esther also shares her insights into the PvdA’s history, the current challenges the party faces, and a wide...
Jul 15, 2022•36 min
Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Leader of the Irish Labour Party, Ivana Bacik. Ivana shares her story, from student activism fighting for women’s abortion rights, teaching law, to her entry into politics and her recent election to Leader of the Labour Party. She remarks on the poignant progressive changes Ireland has taken in recent years, such as the same sex marraige and abortion referendums, and how progressive issues remain at the forefront of Irish...
Jul 08, 2022•44 min
