Socially Democratic - podcast cover

Socially Democratic

Stephen Donnellydunnstreet.com.au

Socially Democratic is your weekly centre-left politics and campaign podcast hosted by Stephen Donnelly, founder of Dunn Street - a campaign agency bringing change by organising from the ground up. Each Friday, Stephen and guests breakdown the issues shaping Australia and the rest of the world and the social democrats leading them. Follow on Instagram at @dunn.street Facebook at @dunnstreetaustralia Twitter at @Dunn_Street_LinkedIn at Dunn Street Website at dunnstreet.com.au 

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Episodes

Ep.185: NSW Election Night Battleground Seats Guide - Labor’s Pathway to 47

Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by McKell Institute CEO, Michael Buckland, and political director at the CPSU (community public sector union), Rosie Ryan for our NSW Election Night Battleground Seats Guide. In the lead up to Saturday’s election, Michael and Rosie break down the key seats Labor needs to win to form a majority government and provide seat by seat analysis. This is the election night form guide for you and the whole family. Make an impact this...

Mar 22, 20231 hr 12 min

Ep.184: 2023 NSW ELECTION WEEKLY WRAP #2 (8 days to go)

Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by McKell Institute CEO, Michael Buckland, and political director at the CPSU (community public sector union), Rosie Ryan, for week 2 of our NSW state election weekly recap series. Michael and Roise break down the Liberal’s campaign launch, along with the controversial policy announcements, namely the Future Fund, the privatisation of Sydney Water, and the noticeable absentees from the event. They also discuss the shift in m...

Mar 15, 20231 hr 3 min

Ep.183: Unions, Campaigns, and Elections (NSW Election BONUS Episode) with Mark Morey

Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Secretary of Unions NSW, Mark Morey, for our BONUS NSW Election episode. It’s Labor Day in Victoria, so who better to have on the show than a unionist? Mark joins the show to chat about his journey in the world of trade unionism, the current issues UnionNSW face, and the outcomes they’d like to see in the upcoming state election. Union members in NSW are paid more, get better conditions and receive greater protections at ...

Mar 12, 20231 hr 4 min

Ep.182: 2023 NSW ELECTION WEEKLY WRAP #1 (2 Weeks to go)

Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by McKell Institute CEO, Michael Buckland for our first of four NSW state election weekly recap episodes. Michael helps set the scene for the remaining 2 weeks of the campaign by discussing the narratives that will shape the debate, the strengths and weaknesses of the two leaders, the seats to watch, and how the media is reporting this campaign. Volunteers are the backbone of every successful grassroot movement and campaign....

Mar 09, 20231 hr 15 min

Ep.181: International Women’s Day 2023 Mic Handover

Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly hands over the mic for the third special International Women’s Day edition of Socially Democratic. Maurice Blackburn’s Liberty Sanger is joined once again by the SDA’s National Assistant Secretary Julia Fox and Minister for Education and Minister for Women, Natalie Hutchins MP, to break down the pressing issues women face in today’s society. From elections to workplace reform, there was much to unpack! The presenting sponsor of the Soc...

Mar 02, 20231 hr 11 min

Ep.180: Catching Up with Ben Davison

Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by union organiser and co-host of Week on Wednesday podcast, Ben Davison. Ben comes on the show to chat about how there is a gap in the market for good, unabashedly, left wing content in Australia, which Week on Wednesday and Socially Democratic are working together to fill. He also shares his thoughts on the Aston by-election, Alan Tudge and the Robodebt scandal. They talk about the Voice to Parliament referendum, the NSW s...

Feb 23, 20231 hr 10 min

Ep.179: Can't Buy My Silence with Dr Julie MacFarlane

Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by Canadian law professor and activist, Dr Julie MacFarlane, and Maurice Blackburn’s Liberty Sanger. Dr Julie joins the show to discuss the Can’t Buy My Silence campaign which aims to end the misuse of Non Disclosure Agreements, particularly in cases of sexual misconduct. Julie and Liberty, discuss the failings of self-policing by companies and lawyers and the need for legislative reform to outlaw this practice. Find out mor...

Feb 16, 202359 min

Ep.178: The Post Ardern Era of New Zealand Politics with Neale Jones

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 sponso...

Feb 09, 202359 min

Ep.177: Rethinking our Criminal Justice System with Abigail Lewis

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 only sp...

Feb 02, 20231 hr 9 min

Ep.176: Journey to Voice and Treaty with Aunty Jill Gallager AO

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, 202348 min

Ep.175: How Unions NSW Won an 18 Month Dispute with Thomas Costa

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, 20231 hr 20 min

Ep.174: Hope Always Defeats Hate with Dan Andrews

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, 20231 hr 20 min

Ep.173: 2022 Pop Culture Wrap Up with Tess Farrell

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, 20231 hr 6 min

Ep.172: International Politics Year in Review - 2022 with David Kitching

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, 20221 hr 10 min

Ep.171: State Politics Year in Review - 2022 with Harriet Shing

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, 20221 hr 3 min

Ep.170: Federal Politics Year in Review - 2022 with Anika Wells and Josh Burns

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, 202242 min

Ep.169: Post Victorian State Election Review with Emma Dawson & David Feeney

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, 20221 hr 26 min

Ep.168: 2022 VIC ELECTION ELECTION EVE PREVIEW with Emma Dawson & David Feeney (1 Day to go)

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, 20221 hr 21 min

Ep.167: 2022 VIC ELECTION WEEKLY WRAP #2 with Emma Dawson & David Feeney (9 Days to go)

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, 20221 hr 1 min

Ep.166: No Red Wave - Post Midterm Breakdown with Jonae Wartel

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 forward to ...

Nov 16, 202258 min

Ep.165: 2022 VIC ELECTION WEEKLY WRAP #1 with Emma Dawson & David Feeney (16 Days to go)

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, 20221 hr 19 min

Ep.164: The Great Resignation (Tory PMs edition) with David Kitching

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, 20221 hr 6 min

Ep.163: The Federal Budget with Elliot Stein

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, 202259 min

Ep.162: The 2022 US Midterms with Saint Jonae Wartel

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, 202253 min

Ep.161: Stronger Together with the RWDSU and Jessica Garcia

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, 202252 min

Ep.160: Speech Writing into the History Books with Terry Szuplat

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, 202256 min

Ep.159: You Can’t Out Left Van Badham

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, 20221 hr 21 min

Ep.158: Ruining the Red Roo with TWU’s Michael Kaine

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, 202249 min

Ep.157: Does Labor have a “Religion” Problem? with Kate Harrison Brennan

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, 202251 min

Ep.156: Australian Media Landscape with Dr. Andrea Carson

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 part...

Aug 25, 20221 hr 10 min
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