PLAY PODCASTS
Coffee with Comrades

Coffee with Comrades

206 episodes — Page 1 of 5

BONUS: "All Good Things Must Come to an End..."

bonus

Dear listeners of Coffee with Comrades, with special regard to the wonderful folks who support this program on Patreon, Hello! I hope that the autumnal season has brought crisp, cool air and abundant joy to you and yours. I write to you today with a bittersweet sense of pride and melancholy to announce Coffee with Comrades is officially coming to an end. Although I know I don't "owe" anyone an explanation, I thought it wise—for both my own peace-of-mind and for the wonderful community that has sprung up around this show—to offer a bit of insight into my thought process on the matter and why I eventually came to this decision. Coffee with Comrades got its start in June of 2018. I had recently moved back to Orlando, FL and was hanging out with my friend, Bree. She said, "Pearson, y'know what? We should start a podcast and name it Coffee with Comrades!" and (for better or worse) that's exactly what we did. Over the 5+ years this show has been online, a lot has changed. History has happened, carrying each of us with it inexorably. A global pandemic shuttered windows, closed doors, and swept us all into quarantine. A massive, anti-racist uprising rocked the U.S. Strikes were won. Wars ravaged. Here at Coffee with Comrades, we have gone through multiple co-hosts. I met authors, musicians, artists, and the hosts of other podcasts and radio shows who I had long respected and finally got to befriend. I've broken bread with these folks, slept over at their homes, and turned to them for advice in times of need. I linked up with listeners all across the U.S. and became dear friends with many of them. We cultivated a joyful, wholesome, queer community on Discord where many have half-jokingly said, "I was cis when I got here!" In the end, if it weren't for this silly little program, I would never have met my partner, Megan, and fallen in love. For a long, long time now, Coffee with Comrades has been an integral facet of my life. I'm in a different place in 2023 than I was in 2018. I am a partner and a parent now. I am teaching full-time. Over the past year, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on how Coffee with Comrades factors into my life. As many of you know, I graduated in May '23 with a PhD in Literature, Media, and Culture. Bree and I started this show about the same time I got accepted to teach at Florida State University. With each passing year, that degree took more and more of a toll on my mental health. In the end, it got to a point where I loathed the very idea of reading—a pastime that once brought me inexpressible pleasure and euphoria. Although I am slowly starting to get that sense of enjoyment back when it comes to reading, I cannot help but notice that I am starting to feel a similar sense of frustration and, if I am honest, even contempt whenever I think about creating another episode of the podcast. Cycles of burnout and frustration are, on the whole, pretty normal in community-organizing. For a time, I thought that was just what I was going through: the normal pattern of excitement, burnout, then new excitement once again. After all, this wouldn't be the first time I went through that cycle working on Coffee with Comrades. On several occasions, I have taken breaks from the show to get back into the right mindset. This happened again fairly recently when Megan and I found out one of our dear friends had died. I put the show on hold so I could take care of my partner, our friends, and (importantly) take care of myself. But during that time of contemplation and distance from the show, I felt a disconnect greater than any I had experienced before. I realized I didn't want to go back to putting out episodes. I did eventually put out another episode (and I am happy with it!) But I was actually low-key dreading getting back into the swing again. As I have said before, putting together a podcast is an enormous amount of work. Booking guests, scheduling recording times, doing the pre-production, recording the actual show, editing the show, doing post-production, uploading everything to the internet, managing social media, etc. It all adds up to an extraordinary amount of effort and, increasingly, I am noticing the fact that it has taken away from the number one creative passion in my life: writing. Writing stories, poems, and essays has been an enduring wellspring of joy throughout my life. I started writing stories when I was just seven years old and I have never stopped. But there have also been periods where I was more (or less) committed to my craftsmanship. Coffee with Comrades has been a creative project, to be sure. But it has also been one that has sapped my ability to concentrate more time and effort on other creative endeavors. Even still, I recently released my second collection of poetry, Your Mind is the Cathedral Where I Finally Find god. But what that experience helped me remember was just how life-affirming it is for me to write. How much I need the deft and lyrical melody of the written wor

Oct 20, 202314 min

Episode 196: "This is Just Practice" ft. Marisa Holmes

E

This week, I sat down with Marisa Holmes, one of the organizers behind Occupy Wall Street, to talk about her new book Organizing Occupy Wall Street: This is Just Practice. Follow Marisa on Twitter and Instagram and pick up a copy of her book. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Mastodon, Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud affiliate of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Oct 3, 20231h 38m

Ep 195Episode 195: "The Earth Tells Our Story of Imperfect Beauty" ft. Ami Weintraub

E

CW: In this week's episode, we discuss anti-Semitic violence. Listener discretion is advised. Today, Ami Weintraub (he/they) joins us to discuss his new book To the Ghosts Who Are Still Living. In this joyous and melancholic discussion, Ami and I explore the essay collection in detail, touching on anti-fascism, anti-semitism, Jewish identity in diaspora, and Ami's spiritual and ancestral affinity. Pick up a copy of To the Ghosts Who Are Still Living today! Check out Ami's website and follow them on Instagram. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Mastodon, Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud affiliate of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale. Pick up a copy of my second book of poetry, Your Mind is the Cathedral Where I Finally Find god.

Aug 16, 202358 min

Episode 194: "Smashing the Surveillance State" ft. Chris Robé

E

On today's episode of Coffee with Comrades, I am pleased to be joined by Chris Robé, a professor of film and media studies at Florida Atlantic University and the author of the new book Abolishing Surveillance: Digital Media Activism and State Repression. Follow Chris on Twitter and pre-order a copy of Abolishing Surveillance! Check out Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Mastodon, Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud affiliate of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale. Pick up a copy of my second book of poetry, Your Mind is the Cathedral Where I Finally Find god.

Aug 1, 20231h 18m

Ep 193Episode 193: "Building Power in the Midwest"

E

This week, I sat down with some of the organizers behind Dual Power Gathering Midwest to discuss the weekend long event, the concept of dual power, building solidarity, and sharing knowledge with each other as we develop our greater movement affinity. Dual Power Gathering Midwest 2023 will take place in the traditional homelands of the Miami, Potawatomi, and Kickapoo, about thirty minutes south of downtown Chicago. A follow-up to the Dual Power Gathering at Indiana Dunes in 2022, this event is a regionally-focused attempt to bring folks together from across the Midwest to meet, spend time together, and discuss dual power strategies for the struggles of today and tomorrow. Find out more about DPG Midwest '23! Check out Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Mastodon, Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud affiliate of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale. Pick up a copy of my second book of poetry, Your Mind is the Cathedral Where I Finally Find god.

Jul 9, 20231h 0m

Episode 192: "Visions of Queer Futurity" ft. Scott Branson

E

This week, I was joined once again by Scott Branson to discuss the new anthology they helped edit for PM Press, Surviving the Future: Queer Abolitionist Strategies. Scott and I had a lovely conversation about queerness, futurity, healthcare, academia, and everything in between. Purchase a copy of Surviving the Future: Queer Abolitionist Strategies today! Follow Scott on Twitter and visit her website. Check out this interview Scott did for The Final Straw with trans folks organizing in Missouri. Check out Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Mastodon, Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud affiliate of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale. Pick up a copy of my second book of poetry, Your Mind is the Cathedral Where I Finally Find god.

Jun 20, 20231h 30m

Episode 191: "June 11th"

E

This week, we're sharing a recent conversation with some of the organizers behind the International Day of Solidarity with Marius Mason & All Longterm Anarchist Prisoners. Check out June11.org and read this essay from CrimethInc. to learn more about the long-term struggles of anarchist prisoners. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Mastodon, Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud affiliate of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

May 9, 202358 min

Episode 190: "Everything Grade B Sucks" ft. Mixæl Laufer

E

We spoke with Mixæl Laufer of Four Thieves Vinegar Collective. Check it out! Follow Mixæl on Twitter and visit Four Thieves Vinegar Collective's website! Check out our previous episodes with Mixæl, too: Episode 14, 21, and 171. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades t-shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Apr 25, 20231h 11m

Ep 189Episode 189: "The Black Line of Liberty" ft. Brenton Lengel

E

This week, I hung out with Brenton Lengel to talk about Issue #2 of Durruti: Shadow of the People, a comic exploring the life and times of revolutionary Spain's Buenaventura Durruti! Pick up a copy of the Durruti, Issue #2 special variant to benefit folks displaced by the war in Ukraine Follow Brenton on Twitter. Check out our previous dialogue with Brenton in Ep. 152 of Coffee with Comrades! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Mastodon, Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud affiliate of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Apr 11, 20231h 19m

Episode 188: "The Future is Black & Red" ft. Michael Löwy and David Campbell

E

This week, I sat down with Michael Löwy and David Campbell to talk about the book Michael co-wrote and David recently translated into English, Revolutionary Affinities: Toward a Marxist Anarchist Solidarity. The three of us got into a lovely dialogue about the recent uprisings in France against the neoliberal Macron regime, as well as the painstaking labor David undertook of translating this book into English by hand. Then, we dive into the book and talk about the principled points of solidarity and the potential areas of conflict between Anarchists and Marxists before contemplating what these struggles mean for today. Pre-order a copy of Revolutionary Affinities: Toward a Marxist Anarchist Solidarity today! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Mastodon, Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud affiliate of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale. Note: A minor correction. David mentioned the anti-basin protest was at "Sainte Solite." It's actually Sainte Soline.

Mar 28, 20231h 32m

Ep 187Episode 187: "Gamifying History" ft. Alex Knight

E

This episode of the program features my conversation with Alex Knight, designer and developer of the board game Land and Freedom, inspired by the Spanish Revolution and Civil War. Check out Land and Freedom today! Pick up a copy of Land and Freedom. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Mastodon, Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud affiliate of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Feb 28, 20231h 0m

Episode 186: "Bite Back" ft. Shannon Clay

E

We are back with another episode of Coffee with Comrades featuring Shannon Clay, one of the folks behind the new book We Go Where They Go: The Story of Antiracist Action available today via PM Press. Pick up a copy of We Go Where They Go today! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Mastodon, Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud affiliate of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Feb 14, 20231h 23m

Ep 185Episode 185: "The Cartography of Struggle" ft. Working Class History

E

This episode of Coffee with Comrades is dedicated to Tortuguita. Rest in Power, Tort. May we carry on the defense of Earth in your memory. Here are some ways to support the defense of the forest in Atlanta: Donate to the Atlanta Solidarity Fund to support legal costs for arrested protestors and ongoing legal action. Call on investors in the project to divest from Cop City (list of APF investors). Call on builders of the project to drop their construction contracts. Organize political solidarity bail funds, forest defense funds, and forest defense committees where you live. Participate in or organize local solidarity actions. Endorse and circulate this statement of solidarity. Email [email protected]. Show-Notes: Matt and John of Working Class History join me to discuss their new interactive map and smartphone app that helps users connect with working class history on the streets worldwide. Follow Working Class History on Twitter and Instagram, visit their website, and support them on Patreon. Check out the Working Class History Map and Stories App! Pick up a copy of Working Class History: Everyday Acts of Resistance & Rebellion. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Mastodon, Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud affiliate of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Jan 31, 20231h 8m

Ep 184Episode 184: "Little Turtle" RIP, Manny

E

This episode of Coffee with Comrades is dedicated to Tortuguita. Rest in Power, Tort. May we carry on the defense of Earth in your memory. Eros, a dear friend and comrade of Manny "Tortuguita" Teran, joins me to memorialize the dearly departed. Donate to the GoFundMe for Manny's family. Here are some ways to support the defense of the forest in Atlanta: Donate to the Atlanta Solidarity Fund to support legal costs for arrested protestors and ongoing legal action. Call on investors in the project to divest from Cop City (list of APF investors). Call on builders of the project to drop their construction contracts. Organize political solidarity bail funds, forest defense funds, and forest defense committees where you live. Participate in or organize local solidarity actions. Endorse and circulate this statement of solidarity. Email [email protected]. Show-Notes: Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Mastodon, Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud affiliate of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Jan 22, 202330 min

Episode 183: "Just Past the Next Horizon" ft. Caleb Wexler

E

We are back with our first episode of 2023! This edition of Coffee with Comrades features a dialogue with my dear friend and comrade, Caleb Wexler. Our conversation is pretty wide-ranging. We spend the first half of the episode talking about Caleb's housing cooperative—how it runs, how they make decisions, and what it looks like to exist in the liminal space between our contemporary housing hellscape and the better tomorrow we're all dreaming of and fighting for. In the second half of the episode, we speak at length about two of the best works of media that came out in 2022: Citizen Sleeper and Andor. Fair warning, we spend a good chunk of time delving into spoilers in those latter sections, so be sure to check out the time-stamps below! Technologies of Hope, Caleb's M.A. Thesis on Solarpunk: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K0KkJroaKyCNHv8NT48y_Zyh_ur7cJKU/view Spoiler Talk: Citizen Sleeper: 1:09:00 Andor: 1:20:23 Show Notes: Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitterand Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Jan 10, 20231h 41m

Episode 182: "The Lapdogs of Capital" ft. Chad Pearson

E

This week, we are sharing a recent conversation I had with Chad Pearson about his book Capital's Terrorists: Klansmen, Lawmen, and Employers in the Long Nineteenth Century. Chad and I chat about vigilante violence, the coercive nature of the law, the capaciousness of the term "terrorism," and a whole lot more. Follow Chad on Instagram and pick up a copy of Capital's Terrorists today! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitterand Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Nov 29, 202257 min

Episode 181: "Anarcha Islām" ft. Mohamed Abdou

E

Recently, I hung out with scholar and organizer Mohamed Abdou. We spoke at length about his book Islam and Anarchism: Relationships and Resonances. Follow Mohamed on Twitter and pick up a copy of Islam & Anarchism: Relationships and Resonances today! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitterand Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Nov 15, 20221h 27m

Episode 180: "Solidarity Begins at Home" ft. carla bergman

E

Recently, I hung out with my very dear friend, carla bergman. carla and I spent a good chunk of time talking about their new edited anthology, Trust Kids! Stories on Youth Autonomy and Confronting Adult Supremacy. Pick up a copy of carla's book, Trust Kids! Check out Grounded Futures, as well. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Nov 1, 20221h 24m

Episode 179: "No Pasarán!" ft. Shane Burley

E

I recently sat down with the one and only Shane Burley to talk about his new edited anthology, No Pasarán: Dispatches from a World in Crisis. The book is a collection of essays by and interviews with antifascists: community-organizers, researchers, journalists, artists, and more. Shane and I have a pretty wide-ranging dialogue, touching on violence, prefiguration, the so-called "meme alibi," the history of antifascism, and a whole helluva lot more. Follow Shane on Twitter and Instagram and pick up a copy of No Pasarán! Antifascist Dispatches from a World in Crisis Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitterand Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Oct 25, 20221h 12m

Episode 178: "Tierra y Libertad" ft. Jim Yeoman

E

James Yeoman, author of Print Culture and the Formation of the Anarchist Movement in Spain, 1890-1915 joins me to talk about propaganda by the deed, violence, terror, education, and the anarchist printing press in Spain at the turn of the twentieth century. Pick up a copy of Print Culture and the Formation of the Anarchist Movement in Spain, 1890-1915! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Oct 18, 20221h 17m

Episode 177: "Kin-Making in Disaster's Wake" ft. Jimmy Dunson

E

I recently sat down with my dear friend and comrade, Jimmy Dunson, who put together an anthology on mutual aid, disaster relief, and building dual-power called Building Power While the Lights Are Out. The anthology is gripping and brilliant and the two of us have a wide-ranging conversation on a number of the essays contained within the anthology. We talk about mutual aid as the process of making kin, the ways mutual aid is becoming less of a niche thing that just anarchists dressed all in black do, and the ways we can build dual-power both before and after a natural disaster. Pick up a copy of Building Power While the Lights are Out: Disasters, Mutual Aid, and Dual Power. You can donate to Mutual Aid Disaster Relief on PayPal by sending funds to [email protected]. You can support MADR on Venmo at @mutualaiddisasterrelief. You can also support their work on MADR's Action Network. Enter our MADR Fundraiser to win a copy of Bloc by Bloc: Uprising! Send a screenshot of your donation via DM to Coffee with Comrades' Twitter or Instagram by 10/7/22 @ 12pm EST. Find out more about Bloc by Bloc by listening to Ep. 158 and Ep. 22. Visit Mutual Aid Disaster Relief's website and follow them on Twitter and Instagram. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Oct 4, 20221h 1m

Episode 176: "The Power of Story" ft. Margaret Killjoy

E

Today, we're sharing an interview with the all-around-badass Margaret Killjoy. Margaret is a writer of fiction, a musician in multiple bands, and she is also the host of two great podcasts: Live Like the World is Dying and Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff. And that's an inexhaustive list. Margaret joined me to talk about her new book, We Won't Be Here Tomorrow, which is a delightful anthology of short stories collected for the first time together in this brand new edition for AK Press. Pick up a copy of We Won't Be Here Tomorrow. Support Margaret on Patreon and follow her on Twitter and Instagram! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram and Mastadon, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Sep 20, 20221h 11m

BONUS: "Free Dan Baker!"

bonus

In this special bonus edition of Coffee with Comrades, I sit down with Tallahassee, FL-based artist and community-organizer, Eric Champagne, to talk about the life and plight of Dan Baker. Dan Baker is a YPG veteran, yoga instructor, and anarchist who was arrested for posts he made on social media in the wake of the January 6th insurrection. Stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear Dan talk in his own words about his experiences on the inside. Special thanks to Eric and Adrien, who helped acquire the audio from Dan for this episode. Additional thanks to Running Down the Walls, the Certain Days Calendar, the Anarchist Black Cross, Antifa International, and the Burning Books Collective. Dan's birthday is on September 17th. If you'd like to send him a letter or a birthday card, you can do so at the following address: Dan Baker - #25765-509 FCI Memphis P.O. Box 34550 Memphis, TN 38184 You can also donate directly to Dan's commissary/reentry fund by sending donations to [email protected] on PayPal. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Sep 14, 20221h 12m

Episode 175: "Deathways" ft. Nash Flynn

E

This week, I am sharing a dialogue I recently had with my new friend Nash Flynn. Nash is a comedian, historian, and host of the podcast Death and Friends. In our dialogue, we talk about death. A lot. Like, a whole helluva lot. So keep that in mind as you wade into this discussion. We chat about the death of non-human animals, climate change, the inevitable heat-death of the universe…but the majority of the dialogue focuses on Nash's area of expertise: the deathways of so-called New England in the fifteenth century. We talk a lot about settler colonialism, the way history is whitewashed and sanitized, and get into the details of death in all their nitty, gritty, gory glory. Follow Nash on Twitter and Instagram and listen to her podcast, Death and Friends. You can also support Death and Friends on Patreon! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Sep 6, 20221h 28m

Episode 174: "Children's Liberation, Now!" ft. Srsly Wrong

E

Shawn of Srsly Wrong joins me for a discussion inspired by two books: Escape from Childhood by John C. Holt, and Raising Free People by Akilah S. Richards. In our expansive dialogue, we talk about climate anxiety, raising kids, studenthood, the abolition of family, and the process of teaching yourself how to treat children with respect. Support Srsly Wrong on Patreon, follow them on Twitter and Instagram, and visit their website. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram and Mastadon, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Aug 24, 20221h 17m

Episode 173: "Anarchists Care About Books" ft. Firestorm Books

E

Today, we're sharing an interview with an Ashville-based collective called Firestorm Books. For those not already acquainted with our Appalachian comrades' work, Firestorm Books is a queer, feminist, anarchist collective operating a co-op bookstore and social movement space. Esmé, Ash, and Libertie sat down with me this past week to talk about starting up their cooperative business, the tensions and dynamics of running a horizontal, collaborative workplace, how they thwart hierarchy interpersonally, and–perhaps most importantly–their ongoing fundraiser to purchase a new storefront just up the road from their current location. Support Firestorm Books' fundraising effort. Help this radical cooperative find a new home! Visit Firestorm's website to pick up a book, stickers, or other sweet merch. You can also follow them on Twitter and Instagram. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitterand Instagram and Mastadon, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Aug 16, 20221h 24m

Episode 172: "What Are the Rules in Hell?" ft. Overcritical

E

In this week's special, collaborative episode of Coffee with Comrades, Parker from Overcritical joins me to discuss the "most watched" television phenomenon of all time: Squid Game (2021). Follow Overcritical on Twitter and Instagram. While you're at it, follow Parker, too! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitterand Instagram and Mastadon, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Aug 2, 20221h 18m

Episode 171: "This Card is an Abortion" ft. Dr. Mixæl Laufer

E

In this edition of Coffee with Comrades, we talk with Dr. Mixæl Laufer about Four Thieves Vinegar Collective's most recent DIY, autonomous medicine shenanigans. Mixæl walks us through abortion pills that've been transposed to business cards. We talk about 4TVC's revamp of the Microlab Suite, which now features an intuitive system for researching medicines and helping you diagnose your own symptoms. Together, we discuss abortion access and why DIY medicine shouldn't be necessary in the first place. The episode is jam-packed and I sincerely hope you'll enjoy our dialogue as much as we did. Follow Mixæl on Twitter and visit Four Thieves Vinegar Collective's newly revamped website! A VICE write-up on Mixæl's recent appearance at the HOPE Conference in NYC. Check out our previous episodes with Mixæl, too: Episode 14 and Episode 21. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Jul 26, 20221h 7m

Episode 170: "Preparing the Soil" ft. Adrien of L.O.R.E.

E

Today, we're sharing an interview with Tallahassee-based poet, essayist, and social ecology community organizer, Adrien. You might know Adrien better by their pen-name, Cybele. Recently, Adrien put out a new essay called (Re)Growing Communal Life: Preparing the Soil for Revolution. I'd recommend checking it out, if you got a sec. The essay is pretty short and a brisk, lovely read. I've appreciated Adrien's writing ever since we were roommates swapping poetry. I know you'll dig their work, too. I hope you enjoy this dialogue as much as we did! Read Adrien's essay, (Re)Growing Communal Life: Preparing the Soil for Revolution. Follow Live Oak Radical Ecology on Twitter and Instagram. Check out our previous episode with Adrien, too! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Jul 19, 202245 min

Episode 169: "We Will Overcome" ft. Tom Wetzel

E

Today, I'm joined by labor organizer Tom Wetzel, author of the new book Overcoming Capitalism: Strategy for the Working Class in the Twenty-First Century. Pick up a copy of Tom's book, Overcoming Capitalism. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Jul 5, 202248 min

Episode 168: "Turf Wars" ft. Kristian Williams

E

In this edition of Coffee with Comrades, we sit down with Kristian Williams, author of the new book Gang Politics: Revolution, Repression, and Crime. Kristian and I explore the long history of counterinsurgency, the emergence of gang-style political formations in the imperial core, the efficacy of community armed self-defense, and so much more. Pick up a copy of Kristian's latest book, Gang Politics: Revolution, Repression, and Crime. Visit Kristian's website. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Jun 21, 20221h 4m

Episode 167: "Care without Fear" ft. Bruce E. Levine

E

I recently sat down with Bruce E. Levine to talk about his new book A Profession without Reason: The Crisis of Contemporary Psychiatry Untangled and Solved by Spinoza, Freethinking, and Radical Enlightenment. In my conversation with Bruce, we touched on a whole host of things: freethinking, care work, peer-to-peer mutual aid groups of psychiatric survivors, horizontal versus hierarchical modes of care, and Spinoza. Lots of Spinoza. Pick up a copy of A Profession Without Reason and check out Bruce's website. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Jun 7, 20221h 7m

Episode 74: "Eating the Other" ft. Alisha Gaines

This week, we sat down with Dr. Alisha Gaines to talk about racialized empathy, the failures of white liberalism, collaborative pedagogy, and authentic solidarity. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

May 29, 202238 min

Episode 164: "Thriving in the Ruins" ft. Peter Gelderloos

E

Today, I'm very excited to share a conversation with you that I had with Peter Gelderloos, author of the new book The Solutions Are Already Here, available now through Pluto Press. Peter and I talk about why "climate change" doesn't quite capture the urgency of ecological catastrophe, why a fixation on "fossil fuels" is a strategic error, the kinship relations that inform our intricate and intimate connections to all living critters and the planet itself, indigenous wisdom and situated knowledges, and a whole helluva lot more. Pick up a copy of The Solutions Are Already Here! Follow Peter Gelderloos on Twitter Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

May 29, 20221h 23m

Episode 166: "Like Mushrooms Thriving Amidst Ruins" ft. Gareth Damian Martin

E

In this week's edition of Coffee with Comrades, I'm joined by writer, artist, and game designer Gareth Damian Martin, developer of the new indie RPG Citizen Sleeper. Gareth and I talk about Citizen Sleeper's systems, structures, and mechanics, its vast cast of NPCs, themes of precarity and symbiosis, and the importance of mushrooms. Like Gareth's game, neither of us came up with many answers for how to survive–and thrive–in the ruins of capitalism, but the conversation was immensely edifying and I hope you'll enjoy it, too. You can download Citizen Sleeper right now with a GamePass subscription on Xbox consoles or pick up a copy for PC, Mac, or the Nintendo Switch. Follow Gareth on Twitter and check out their website. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

May 29, 20221h 10m

Episode 165: "Toward an Anarchist Critique of Psychiatry"

E

Chris, a psychotherapist with sixteen years in the field, joins me to critique the psych profession. We explore the history of psychology and psychiatric coercion, the violence and carceral logic implicit in locking away the "insane." We discuss the ways in which neurotypicality is constructed to serve the hegemony of the ruling class. Chris and I examine the ways that capital and the state regiment our minds, cajoling, commanding, and controling. We also touch on the emerging concept of "mad liberation." It's a pretty wide-ranging conversation. I hope you enjoy it. Follow Chris on Mastadon. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

May 21, 20221h 5m

Episode 163: "Horizontal Mentorship" ft. carla bergman

E

On this week's edition of Coffee with Comrades, I am joined by carla bergman to discuss the pamphlet she co-authored with scott crow, Just anarchy. carla and I explore intergenerational struggle, burnout, the general utility of peer-to-peer mentorship, anarchist conceptions of authority, trusting kids, cultivating kinship, and a whole lot more. Follow carla on Twitter, visit her website, check out Silver Threads and Grounded Futures, and pick up a copy of Just anarchy. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Apr 5, 20221h 11m

Episode 162: "Room for Everyone..." ft. Jay Dragon & Mercedes Acosta

E

Today, we're sharing an interview with Jay Dragon and Mercedes Acosta, two of the developers, designers, and writers behind the brand new TRPG Yazeba's Bed & Breakfast which, as of today, is officially available to support on Indiegogo! We had a really lovely conversation about sanctuary, refuge, transgender characterization, seeing elements of yourself reflected back at you in your writing, twitter beef, drama in leftist milieus, and the joy of finding community together. I'd strongly encourage you to visit the campaign website and support their game. I've had a peak behind-the-scenes and think Yazeba's is truly something special. Back Yazeba's Bed & Breakfast on Indiegogo today! You can also visit Possum Creek Games on the web. Follow Jay Dragon and Mercedes Acosta on Twitter. Check out Mercedes' art while you're at it! Support Clearwater Give Water, Mercedes' mutual aid efforts in Southern FL. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Mar 22, 20221h 27m

Episode 161: "Trans Liberation, Now!" ft. Charli Ash

E

This week, I am joined by my friend and comrade Charli Ash to talk about, well, a whole helluva lot. In this dialogue, Charli lays out trans* history, including how transgender folks have been pathologized, how trans* folks have accessed medical care for transition, the pathologization of transness, and a whole bunch more. Then, we transition to looking at the current moment and the anti-trans and homophobic legislation in places like Texas. We even touch on the struggles of folks in Ukraine and how Putin's crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community prefigured the reactionary playbook being used against people in the so-called U.S. Links Follow Charli on Twitter. Operation.Solidarity Linktree to support anarchist and anti-authoritarian struggles in Ukraine. Support Trans Rights in Texas and score a slew of sweet TRPGs. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale. Book Recommendations Shon Faye, The Transgender Issue Judith Butler, Gender Trouble Emi Koyama, The Transfeminist Manifesto Emma Goldman, The Tragedy of Women's Liberation The Culture series by Iain M. Banks The Left Hand Of Darkness by Ursula K LeGuin Other Sources On the ICD-11 update On the DSM-V definition Madeleine Carlisle. "Pediatricians who serve trans youth face increasing harassment. Livesaving care could be on the line." TIME. Freedom for All Americans Legislation Tracker Russia's anti-LGBTQ bills prefigured legislation in the so-called US.

Mar 8, 20221h 31m

Episode 160: "Went to Bed in a Failed State, Woke Up in a Fugue State" ft. Sole & DJPain1

E

I recently caught up with Tim Holland Pacal Bayley, better known as Sole and DJ Pain 1, to chat about their forthcoming record, Post-American Studies, out this week on the record label Emergency Hearts. Tim, Pacal, and I had a humorous, wide-ranging chat about the record, its themes, and the artists' shared musical history. Pick up a copy of Post-American Studies by Sole & DJPain1. Follow Sole on Twitter, listen to Propaganda by the Seed, and peep his bandcamp. Follow DJPain1 on Twitter and check out his beats website. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Feb 22, 20221h 0m

Episode 159: "Directions to Move Towards" ft. Margaret Killjoy

E

On this week's edition of Coffee with Comrades, I sit down with Margaret Killjoy to discuss the new edition of A Country of Ghosts, an anarchist utopian fantasy novel. Pick up a copy of A Country of Ghosts! Follow Margaret on Twitter and listen to Live Like the World is Dying. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Feb 8, 20221h 32m

Episode 158: "Creation & Destruction, Bloc by Bloc" ft. Out of Order Games

E

In this episode of Coffee with Comrades, T.L and Greg, designers of the forthcoming third edition of Bloc by Bloc: Uprising join me to discuss the game's revamped mechanics, new and emergent gameplay, mutual aid, insurrection, and so much more. In many ways, this conversation functions as a follow up to an earlier episode of Coffee with Comrades, Ep. 22: "The Magic Circle-A." If you haven't listened to that episode, we definitely recommend you check it out, but it's not essential. This episode definitely stands on its own merits. Check out Bloc by Bloc on Gamefound! Follow Greg and TL on Twitter. Follow Out of Order Games on Twitter and visit their website. Subscribe to their newsletter while you're there! Check out Greg's article on First Nations of Catan, which we mentioned in the episode. You can also check out the press release for Greg's other upcoming game, Ahoy! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Jan 25, 20221h 38m

Episode 157: "Bedtime Tyranny (& Other Myths)" Children's Liberation & Radical Parenting

E

This week, I'm sharing a conversation I had with my family about children's liberation and parenting as radicals. The dialogue is pretty wide-ranging. We talk about the "bedtime discourse" that sparked the idea for this episode, chat about unschooling, the limitations of "abolishing the family," parenting as anarchists, how to be good models as adults in kids' lives, the tension between individual autonomy and our communal responsibilities, parenting under capitalism, and a whole lot more. Follow Megan on Twitter. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Jan 11, 20221h 10m

Episode 156: "Bread Santa - A People's History of Christmas" ft. Liz of Rebel Steps

E

Did you know that "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" is secretly a song about stealing from the rich? Did you know the "Lord of Misrule" was the original holiday party animal? Did you know solidarity and justice are the real reason for the season? "Bread Santa" is a holiday special, a people's history of Christmas. Liz, of Rebel Steps, joins us to discuss the pagan origins of Christmas in Yule and Winter Solstice, the Roman Empire's hegemonic institution of Christianity, the Puritans' reactionary conservatism, Fox News' war on Christmas, and so much more. So, pour yourself some eggnog and enjoy! Notes: Check out Rebel Steps wherever you get your favorite podcasts! Follow them on Twitter and TikTok and support their work on Patreon. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale. References: Focus on the Family's reactionary dipshittery From Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus: the surprising origins of Kris Kringle Christmas in 19th century America Christmas Trees: A Forgotten History The Christmas Truce What's the real history of Black Friday? How the "War on Christmas" controversy was created An anarchist guide to Christmas Why do we have Christmas trees? The surprising history behind this holiday tradition. Mother Jones: Santa Gets Busted in Copenhagen The Danish Anarchists Who Inspired SantaCon Could Not Have Imagined Its Bro-Hell Future Julemandshæren 1974 video Rebel Steps' Cancel Rent Gingerbread House

Dec 24, 20211h 39m

Episode 155: "Benign Anarchy"

E

This week, I had a chance to hang out with my pal, Amy, and talk about the benign anarchy of Alcoholics Anonymous. We talk about the beauty and allure of voluntary association, why coercion doesn't help addicts recover, why seeing addiction as an "individual failing" rather than a systemic healthcare issue is facile and vacuous, and levy a whole bunch of critiques at the organization for its regressive attitudes and white supremacy. Follow Amy on Twitter! Need someone to watch your pets while you're away for rehab? Check out the Pink Cloud Foundation! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Nov 23, 20211h 8m

Episode 154: "Mind Made Manifest" ft. Petroglyph Studios

E

Recently, I had the chance to read a wonderful graphic novel put together by my friends nicole and Hugh called Wonder Drug: LSD in the Land of Living Skies. I sat down with the two of 'em to discuss the history of LSD research, psychedelics, hippies, capitalism, therapy, and a whole bunch more. I think the comic is lovely and I hope you'll pick up a copy if you enjoy this dialogue between the three of us. Pick up a copy of nicole and Hugh's graphic novel, Wonder Drug. Follow them on Twitter! Black Out Black Friday Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitterand Instagram, and visit our website. Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Nov 16, 20211h 23m

BONUS: Merch & Yuletide Celebration

bonus

This week, we don't have a new interview for you but we do have a bunch of rad announcements, some of which are time-sensitive. If you're a Coffee with Comrades Patron (or you've ever considered becoming one,) this is definitely a 13 min. episode you don't wanna miss! · Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. · Pick up a Coffee with Comrades shirt or coffee mug at our official merch store. · Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. · Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! · Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale. Transcript: Hey there, comrades! I hope this episode of Coffee with Comrades finds you better than me. I'll admit, it may be a touch dramatic to say this past week I've felt like Death itself, but that's not far from the mark. Earlier this week, we had a COVID-19 scare at our house and we went and got everyone tested. There was good news and bad news. The good news? We didn't have COVID. The bad news? We were all still sick as hell. If I still sound hoarse and sick, that's because I'm still recovering. Fortunately, I am on the mend! Anyway, to make a long story short, I ended up postponing a scheduled interview and, as a result, don't have a full-fledged episode for you today. That said, there are a few exciting announcements that I wanted to make—some of which are time-sensitive—so I didn't want to wait until next week. So, let's dive right in. As always, longtime listeners of Coffee with Comrades are well aware by now, we are a proud part of the Channel Zero Network. Check out this jingle to find out a little more about the network… …Alright, first big announcement: it brings me great pleasure to announce that we finally have merch! We've got t-shirts. We've got crewnecks. And, by popular demand, we've got coffee mugs. You can find it all by visiting the hyperlink in our show-notes. We're so psyched to finally see this stuff out in the wild. If you ordered something, be sure to tag us in it on social media. Now that spoopy season is officially behind us, it's time to celebrate the winter solstice. To mark the occasion, we are doing our first Coffee with Comrades Yule Tide Gift Exchange! I know, I know. I can hear it already. "Exchanging gifts!? That's capitalist." Settle down, y'all. Quite the opposite, gifts have a long, treasured history of being about community, ways of binding us closer to one another. What makes the holidays a capitalist nightmare is the commodification and profit motive, not the euphoric joy of seeing someone's face light up when you exchange gifts. To quote the indigenous scientist Robin Wall Kimmerer, "Gifts from the earth or from each other establish a particular relationship, an obligation of sorts to give, to receive, and to reciprocate…It's funny how the nature of an object is so changed by the way it comes into your hands—as a gift or as a commodity." Gifts spark kinship. They cultivate relationality. The Marxist theory of alienation suggests that commodities, on the other hand, alienate us from one another and from the larger biome we all inhabit together. So, here's how it's all gonna work: 1) Over the next two weeks, we're gonna collect names. In order to sign-up for the Yule Tide Gift Exchange, you'll need to be a Coffee with Comrades Patreon subscriber. That's not to be exclusionary, it's just that it's one of the only ways to really facilitate this sorta process safely. We'll finish the sign-up process November 16th, so be sure to sign-up before then! To sign up, just private message me on Discord and I will put you name on a list for my eyes only! 2) On November 16th, we'll draw names in the Coffee with Comrades Discord sever. We're gonna be using a random generator appropriately called "Draw Names," which I'll enter everyone's names into beforehand. 3) Once names have been drawn, I will privately message you the name and address of the person whose name you drew. This will mean that the only people who will ever have your address are me and the person who's going to be giving you a gift! Of course, I already have your address on Patreon. But, if you haven't put your address on there yet and want to participate in the Gift Exchange, be sure to put one down ASAP! 4) Finally, the goal is to mail out gifts for each other. I'd encourage everyone to try to make something by-hand. Write a poem, draw a painting, take a polaroid photograph of something pretty and design a cute frame. I dunno, go wild! If you'd prefer to pick something up, try to stay under a $20 limit. 5) Let's aim to have our gifts in the mail by Dec. 16th so that folks will have a full month to create and/or shop for the secret gifts! The goal here is to use this opportunity to build up community. Even if we are disconnected from one another, my hope is that through a gift exchange like this and our ongoing monthly book club we can continue to c

Nov 9, 202113 min

Episode 153: "(Capitalism is) Capital Murder" ft. JJ Demon

E

This week, we share an interview with communist rapper JJ Demon. We touch on a whole host of topics: the prison industrial complex, capitalism as capital murder, solidarity, intersectionality, class war, and JJ's new LP, ghost gun Red Menace. Follow JJ Demon on Twitter and stream ghost gun Red Menace wherever you get your favorite music. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Nov 2, 202150 min

Episode 152: "Outlaw, Robin Hood, Revolutionary: Buenaventura Durruti" ft. Brenton Lengel

E

Recently, all of anarchist Twitter lit up like the Minneapolis Third Precinct when AK Press shouted out the forthcoming comic book, Durruti: Shadow of the People. I had the good fortune to sit down with Brenton and chat about the graphic novel, as well as the life and times of Beunaventura Durruti, the struggles of the anarchists and socialists against the fascists in Revolutionary Spain, and why a comic book is a great option for telling Durruti's story (at least, that is, until it can get optioned as a prestige TV mini-series or serialized as an anime!) Check out the Durruti: Shadow of the People Kickstarter page to pre-order a copy today! Follow Brenton on Twitter and visit his website. Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Oct 26, 202155 min

Episode 151: "A Tiny Dinosaur Version of a Cat" ft. Poor Proles' Almanac

I recently sat down with Andy from The Poor Proles Almanac to discuss, well, a whole bunch of shit. We talked about firearms, guerilla gardening, permaculture, and raising chickens. Andy even had the audacity to defend the Pumpkin Spice Latte on a podcast called Coffee with Comrades. Truly, the nerve… Support Poor Proles' Almanac on Patreon, follow them on Twitter and Instagram! Support Coffee with Comrades on Patreon, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and visit our website. Coffee with Comrades is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network. Coffee with Comrades is an affiliate of the Firestorm Books & Café. Check out our reading recommendations! Our logo was designed by Nathanael Whale.

Oct 19, 20211h 7m