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From Alpha To Omega

From Alpha To Omega

A Political Economy Podcast

Tom O'Brien

370 episodesEN-IE

Show overview

From Alpha To Omega has been publishing since 2012, and across the 14 years since has built a catalogue of 370 episodes, alongside 14 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 300 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.

Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 42 min and 59 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. It is catalogued as a EN-IE-language News show.

The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 months ago, with 2 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2020, with 64 episodes published. Published by Tom O'Brien.

Episodes
370
Running
2012–2026 · 14y
Median length
50 min
Cadence
Fortnightly

From the publisher

What is happening to our economy and our politics? Are we stuck forever in this corporate dystopia? What can we learn from the failures of radical politics over the last 100 years? Commandante Alpha talks in depth to experts from the fields of Political Economy, Politics, Science, Philosophy, Complexity, Mathematics, Music, and the Environment.

Latest Episodes

View all 370 episodes

Episode 341: #227 Book Update w/ Donal

Apr 12, 202640 min

Ep 340Episode 340: #226 Chomsky's Descent w/ Chris Knight

This episode I am delighted to have Chris Knight back with us on the podcast, to talk about the fall and further fall of Noam Chomsky. Chris is an anthropologist and senior research fellow in the Department of Anthropology at University College London (UCL), the activist, prolific author, and a founding member of the amazing Radical Anthropology Group.https://www.youtube.com/@radicalanthropology8305Book Project: https://theclasslesssocietyinmotion.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FromAlpha2Omega

Mar 9, 202643 min

Ep 339Episode 339: #225 Socialism & Self Determination Theory w/ Ferdia O'Driscoll Part 2

This episode we have part two of our discussion with Ferdia O’Driscoll, the host of the ‘Bright Age Beyond’ youtube channel, about Self Determination Theory, and why it matters for socialism.Bright Age Beyond: https://www.youtube.com/@BrightAgeBeyondBook Project: https://theclasslesssocietyinmotion.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FromAlpha2Omega

Dec 31, 20251h 1m

Ep 338Episode 338: #224 Social & Self Determination Theory w/ Ferdia O'Driscoll Part 1

This episode I’m delighted to welcome my friend and collaborator Ferdia O’Driscoll to the podcast for the first time. Ferdia is a radical socialist, host of the ‘Bright Age Beyond’ formerly the After the Oligarchy youtube channel. Ferdia is currently writing a book about Parecon with his co-author Anders Sandström, author of the book Anarchist accounting. Ferdia was one of the co-founders of INDEP, the International Network for Democratic Economic Planning, and together we organised last years panels at Historical Materialism. This is first of a two parter where Ferdia tells us all about Self Determination Theory, and why it matters for socialism.https://www.youtube.com/@BrightAgeBeyond

Nov 22, 202555 min

Ep 337Episode 337: #223 Red Flags w/ David Camfield

This episode I’m delighted to welcome David Camfield podcast to talk about his recent book ‘Red Flags - A Reckoning With Communism For The Future Of The Left’. David is a professor in the Labour Studies Program and the Department of Sociology and Criminology, at the University of Manitoba. He is also the host of the radical left podcast Victors Children. Make sure to check it out.The Book: https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/red-flagsThe Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/user-737267994

Oct 25, 20251h 3m

Ep 336Episode 336: #222 Unifying Marxism And Cybernetics Q&A

Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/FromAlpha2OmegaThe Book Project:https://theclasslesssocietyinmotion.com/I answer your questions on the recent lecture I gave entitled 'Unifying Marxism and Cybernetics'

Sep 21, 20251h 0m

Ep 335Episode 335: #221 Unifying Marxism & Cybernetics

This is a re-recording of a talk I gave recently at the 'Complex Anarchism Symposium' in Brussels Belgium this May. I present some research from the book we are writing about socialist political economy and planning, where we unify the fields of Marx's value theory and cybernetics. We discuss the scientific implications for socialism, with the aim of synthesising Marxism and Anarchism thought. If you want to see the slides, head on over to patreon to watch the video: https://www.patreon.com/posts/unifying-marxism-136243120You can also watch it on the youtube channel: Enjoy!PS - If you have any questions, please leave a comment on patreon, youtube, bluesky, or email me. I will be doing a Q&A video if there is enough demand.

Aug 11, 20251h 22m

Ep 334Episode 334: #220 Is Capitalism Giving Birth To Socialism? w/ Paul S. Adler

https://www.patreon.com/FromAlpha2OmegaWe continue our discussion with Paul S. Adler, this time about his 2019 book “The 99% Economy: How Democratic Socialism Can Overcome the Crises of Capitalism”. In particular we talk about how capitalist firms are helping to show us how democratically planning in socialism would work. We also discuss the impact of AI on the capitalist economy.The 99% Economy: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-99-percent-economy-9780197656952?cc=gb&lang=en&

Jul 25, 202547 min

Ep 333Episode 333: #219 Does Capitalism Deskill Workers? w/ Paul S. Adler

We interview Prof. Adler about his 1990 paper 'Marx, Machines, and Skill'.This is part one. In part two we discuss his 2019 book "The 99% Economy: How Democratic Socialism Can Overcome The Crises of Capitalism".

Jul 15, 202534 min

Ep 332Episode 332: #218 Going Into Labour w/ Anna Fielder - Part 2

This week we continue our conversation with Anna Fielder about her recent book ‘Going Into Labour: Childbirth in Capitalism’. Anna is a sociologist in the Midwifery Department, Auckland University of Technology and a former practicing midwife.https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745349497/going-into-labour/Book Project: https://theclasslesssocietyinmotion.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FromAlpha2Omega

Jun 17, 202541 min

Ep 331Episode 331: #217 Going Into Labour w/ Anna Fielder - Part 1

This episode I’m delighted to welcome Anna Fielder to the podcast to talk about her recent book ‘Going Into Labour: Childbirth in Capitalism’. Anna Fielder is a sociologist in the Midwifery Department, Auckland University of Technology and a former practicing midwife.https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745349497/going-into-labour/Book Project: https://theclasslesssocietyinmotion.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FromAlpha2Omega

Jun 3, 202542 min

Ep 330Episode 330: #216 The Vanguard Method w/ Roger Arevalo Part 2

This we continue with our discussion with Roger Arevalo to the podcast to talk about the Vanguard method, the brainchild of the British management consultant John Seddon.Next week i will be giving a talk at the innaugral Complex Anarchism Symposium in Brussels, about a unifying value theory and cybernetics. You can find out more about the event here:https://clea.research.vub.be/complex-anarchism-symposium-19-23-may-2025-in-brusselsBook Project: https://theclasslesssocietyinmotion.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FromAlpha2Omega

May 12, 202531 min

Ep 329Episode 329: #215 The Vanguard Method w/ Roger Arevalo Part 1

This episode we welcome Roger Arevalo to the podcast to talk about the Vanguard method, the brainchild of the British management consultant John Seddon. Roger is an admirer of the Vanguard Method and argues for its applicability for a socialist economy.Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/FromAlpha2OmegaBook Project: https://theclasslesssocietyinmotion.com/

May 1, 202541 min

Ep 328Episode 328: #214 Marx Meets Lean w/ Matt Vidal - Part 2

This we continue with our discussion with Matt Vidal about his recent book Management Divided: Contradictions of Labor Management, a marxist analysis of Lean production.Book Project: https://theclasslesssocietyinmotion.com/

Apr 2, 202531 min

Ep 327Episode 327: #213 Marx Meets Lean w/ Matt Vidal - Part 1

This episode we welcome Matt Vidal to the podcast to talk about his recent book Management Divided: Contradictions of Labor Management, a marxist analysis of Lean production. Matt is a Reader in Sociology and Political Economy, in the Institute for International Management and Entrepreneurship at London's Loughborough University.Management Divided: https://academic.oup.com/book/43073

Mar 23, 202545 min

Ep 326Episode 326: #212 Cybernetic Socialism For The 21st Century: Q&A

This episode is a recording of a talk I recently gave to the Dutch marxist group ‘De Socialisten’ (https://socialisten.org/). The talk was titled ‘Cybernetic Socialism for the 21st Century’, and was in conjunction with INDEP, the International Network for Democratic Economic Planning (https://www.indep.network/).Youtube Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWgBdhQOvfs

Feb 27, 202546 min

Ep 325Episode 325: #211 Cybernetic Socialism For The 21st Century

This episode is a recording of a talk I recently gave to the Dutch marxist group ‘De Socialisten’ (https://socialisten.org/). The talk was titled ‘Cybernetic Socialism for the 21st Century’, and was in conjunction with INDEP, the International Network for Democratic Economic Planning (https://www.indep.network/).Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hkrjEdPUjNQht43i7QtWgrL0w_6aCzAb/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104947114006179117811&rtpof=true&sd=trueYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHDM775B0nI

Feb 17, 202552 min

Ep 324Episode 324: #210 Book Update Livestream w/ Donal

We give a detailed update on our book progress, replete with Q&A from the chat.https://theclasslesssocietyinmotion.com/https://www.patreon.com/FromAlpha2Omega

Oct 28, 20241h 33m

Ep 323Episode 323: Book Update Today!

Join us today @17:00 London Time, 1pm EST for a book update!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E63zMEeh6Tw

Oct 27, 20240 min

Ep 322Episode 322: #209 The Toyota Production System - Part 2 w/ Donal

This week we have part-two of our discussion with my co-author Donal O’Coisdealbha on the Toyota Production System, and its implications for socialism. You can find some of Donal’s writings on his blog called the office for control over results.Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/FromAlpha2OmegaDonals blog:https://theofficeforcontroloverresults.wordpress.com/ Book Website:https://theclasslesssocietyinmotion.com/

Oct 19, 202436 min
Copyright 2026 Tom O'Brien