Solecast w/ Woodbine NYC: An Experimental Hub Against The End Of The World

In this episode of the Solecast I chat with folks from Woodbine NYC.  Woodbine is an experimental hub in Queens that has been going for 5 years strong. Its hard to pin down what they do to any specific ideological persuasion, instead they draw from a wide range of influences and backgrounds to try to find new ways of looking at things to the skills to meet the challenges that face us. They host a multitude of events from poetry readings, educational events, assemblies, skill shares, gardening and too many things to list.  At the time of this interview they are fundraising for 2019 operations, please consider donating something here and follow them on fedbook / twitter. 

In this conversation we talk about:

• Why spaces like this are so important under Trump

• How Woodbine came about & the thinking that went into it

• The concept of the anthropocene and why it serves as a good way to frame things for this century 

• Concepts of revolution vs autonomy

• What there is to learn from the models of Rojava & Chiapas.

• The importance of breaking out of an ideological approach and pointing to specific liberatory practices

• Amazon HQ2 coming to Queens and what this means 

• Silicon Valleys role in our society

• The importance of “sharing” 

Solecast w/ Rodrigo Starz on Rebel Diaz, The Americas and The Power of Culture

In this episode of the solecast I chat with Rodrigo Starz of Rebel Diaz. Rebel Diaz is a Bronx/Chicago based political rap group that's been killing shit for over a decade. Whether its Ferguson, Occupy or a myriad of other social struggles, Rebel Diaz has been there and engaged. Their family left Chile after their father who was a political prisoner was released and they settled in The Bronx. They have made numerous musical & political interventions over the years and set up one of the only hip-hop squat/community centers in the US called the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective… in the Bronx. Check out their music on Bandcamp, and follow them on twitter.

In this interview we also discuss:

• Their origins

• Analysis on the socialist wins in Central /South America / North America over the past decades and the subsequent rise of fascism globally.

• Their new album America vs America

• Cultural differences between rap shows in the US and elsewhere

• The role of deportation & immigration in spreading and influencing hip hop culture

• Thoughts on early rap history in the Bronx & neo-liberalism (a fancy word for capitalism)

• The history of their autonomous hip hop center in the Bronx

• Fatherhood & multi generational struggle

• His viral intervention against Ted Cruz

• The power of culture

Solecast w/ Sima Lee on Anarchism, Hip-hop & Revolutionary Praxis

In today’s episode of the Solecast I speak with Sima Lee.  Sima Lee is a truly revolutionary artist who was raised on Black Panther-eque / Black Nationalist communities of self defense and mutual aid.  Her entire life has been spent making rap music and doing revolutionary organizing.  I discovered her music through submedia’s Trouble documentary on Hip-Hop, check it out here to learn more about her and other radical rap artists.  In this interview we discuss:

• Her upbringing and how she came to anarchism

• The ideas of the maroon communities and how it informs her work

• Her work at the maroon House in DC and the mutual aid practices they employ in the community

• The importance of self defense and building lasting power beyond mobilizations

• How to create stronger ties between (mostly) white anarchists and communities of color

• Her new album “Trap Liberation Army”

Solecast: In Conversation w/ Coffee With Comrades On Nuclear Winter 3, Permaculture, Mental Health & Revolution

Here is an interview I did on the Coffee With Comrades podcast a month ago about Nuclear Winter 3. It was a fun conversation ranging from art theory stuff to permaculture/food autonomy, revolutionary organizing and “self care.” Great talk with some great folks. If you dug this conversation check out more podcasts from Coffee With Comrades.

Get a free download of Nuclear Winter 3 here.

Solecast: A Conversation About Inhabit, Instructions For Autonomy

In today's episode of The Solecast I’ll be speaking with some folks about a new project slash book called Inhabit : Instructions For Autonomy.  Inhabit takes a look at what it means to live and fight in a world that is burning around us.  It side steps the radical identity and ideological labels and focuses on a set of liberatory practices for building a new world in the ruins of this one.  While silicon valley types want to escape the ravages of climate change by building fortresses for the wealthy, Inhabit imagines a world of autonomous territories, sharing resources, skills and power.  

Read/Get The Book here
Follow them on the gram and twitter

To hear more interviews about Inhabit, check out this interview with Its Going Down.

Food Autonomy: Working Class Vegan Recipes

Today is the first episode of my “Food Autonomy” series where I will be expanding my coverage on things from gardening, food production and how it relates to a revolutionary practice.  I started this journey with vegan cooking on a shoestring budget, so thats where I will start this series.  In this episode I talk about quick and inexpensive ways to cook dope healthy food for you and your peeps and most of these are good for feeding large amounts of people.  These are my go-to recipes and cooking styles when I have limited time and many are focused on storing food to eat throughout the “work week.”   In this podcast I  cover a number of best practices, recipes and methodologies, including:

Recipes Covered:

How To Bake Tofu
Chick Pea Salad
Tuna Fish Salad
Cooking with lentils & other dried legumes
Cast Iron Skillet Stir-fry
Tofu Scramble
Lentil Muajadara
Stews
Macrobiotic Cooking
Shepards Pie
Vegan Mac & Cheese Casserole
Seitan From Scratch
Grilling With Tofu
Cashew Gravy
Nutritional Yeast Gravy

Solecast w/ Frank Lopez on Radical Hip-hop and Submedia's New Film "And You Don't Stop"

In today’s episode of the solecast I sit down with Frank Lopez to discuss Submedia’s new film in their ongoing Trouble series, “And You Don’t Stop.”  And You Don’t Stop is a documentary about radical hip-hop as done by grass roots activists.  Its an excellent look on hip-hop’s roots, its evolution and highlights some artists that are doing amazing work today.  

In our conversation we talk about:

Hip-hop rising from the failures of Neoliberalism in the South Bronx
The rise of the Zulu Nation
The importance of  aesthetics
The role music can play in social movements
Public Enemy and some of Franks favorite artists of the 80s/90s
Combatting sexism in hip-hop
What rap can learn from punk and why we need to build up a network of radical hip hop based social centers

Frank also goes in depth talking about the artists he highlights in the documentary, the work they do and their music.  

Outro music: “Black Anarchist” By Sima Lee

From Submedia:

Trouble #15: And You Don’t Stop

It’s often said that hip hop is more than just a type of music…. it’s a way of life. A code, a set of practices, an aesthetic and a way of handling yourself. And despite the efforts of industry executives to commodify it and strip it of its subversive potential, hip hop remains a lifestyle firmly rooted in the daily struggles faced by oppressed peoples around the world. It is a weapon, masquerading as culture.

In this month’s episode of Trouble, subMedia explores hip hop as a potent site of revolutionary politics, drawing on the first-hand knowledge and experiences of some of Turtle Island’s baddest grassroots emcees: Ant Loc, Mic Crenshaw, La Marea, Sima Lee, Lee Reed and Mare.

Just a heads up that some of the dialogue in the film is in Spanish, so for English speakers we recommend turning on the subtitles by clicking CC on the video player, and/or downloading the SRT file – particularly if you plan on using a hard copy of the video for screening purposes.

As a bonus, The Stimulator brings us a very special sedition of Burning Cop Car, featuring the music of the emcees we interviewed for Trouble #15. Click here to check it out.

Solecast: Black Rose Federation Building Grassroots Working Class Power

On today’s episode of the Solecast I speak with a member of the Black Rose Federation.  Black Rose Federation has chapters across North America and utilizes an anarcho-communist tendency called “Specifismo:” which (according to wikipedia) has been summarized as:

• The need for a specifically anarchist organization built around a unity of ideas and praxis.

• The use of the specifically anarchist organization to theorize and develop strategic political and organizing work.

• Active involvement in and building of autonomous and popular social movements via social insertion.

In this interview we discuss:
Their organizing principles
Their approach to building working class power from below
Grass roots power vs local politics vs electoral politics
The need for a rigorous educational program within movements
Discussions on anarchist infrastructure projects
Thoughts on "protest,” their limitations and what they are good for
The life of Bakunin much more

Fore more information... visit Blackrosefed.org and sign up to their newsletter.

w/ Margaret Killjoy on Anarchist Sci-fi, The Cultural War, & Prefiguration

Todays episode is with Margaret Killjoy.  Margaret is an anarchist science fiction writer and electronic producer.  Her latest album "Always Forever" by "Nomadic War Machine" is available now on bandcamp.  Margaret has published several short stories and books, is currently working on a novel and releases a sci fi short story every month through patreon.   
In this podcast Margaret also reads one of my favorite short stories she has written called The Northern Host about a civil war in the year 2035, with some incredible plot twists.  

In this interview we talk about:

The tension between insurrection and prefiguration
Her new project Nomadic War Machine by Always, Forever
The role culture plays in building revolutionary potential
Living off the land and how it fits into a revolutionary strategy
The importance of infrastructure
Our relationship with technology
The writing process, the format of short stories
Weaving anarchist themes into science fiction and fantasy writings
The importance of radical honesty
and much more

Other Suggested Radical Sci-fi Readings:
"The Fifth Season" by NK Jemisin,
The short story "The Ogres of East Africa," by Sofia Samatar
"The Devil In America" by Kai Ashante Williams.
Everything Belongs to the Future by Laurie Penny

Solecast: "As Black As Resistance" w/ Zoe Samudzi

In today’s solecast I sit down with Zoe Samudzi to discuss the new book she just co-authored with William C Anderson called “As Black As Resistance.”  This book puts forth a compelling argument for a Black anarchism rooted in self defense & autonomy.    In their book they discuss the importance of linking Black liberation to Indigenous struggles, and point back to the Seminole War where Indigenous and Black folks successfully fought side-by-side and achieved the first emancipation proclamation.  In this podcast Zoe talks about the failure of respectability politics and  how appealing to liberals and the state gets Black People nowhere, because it is a system rooted on exploitation and killing of Black People.  Zoe also breaks down how people must overcome their own fears & potentially undermine their own class interests for a truly liberatory politics.   We also discuss  some of the challenges of building movements rooted around autonomy in areas of rapid gentrification and the need to create new kinds of movements/politics that don’t leave people behind.  We cover a lot of ground in this interview, and it barely scratches the surface of the book, pick it up now on AK Press. 

Follow Zoe on twitter or her website.  

In this talk Zoe mentions an article her co-author William wrote about “Cutting Capitalism Out Of Our Relationships."  

Outro music on this episode is Mic Crenshaw feat. Dead Pres "Superheroes"

Solecast: Food Forestry & Perennial Vegetables w/ Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery

in this episode of The Solecast I talk with Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery.  Aaron is a self-taught Horticulturist, Food forest designer and lover of Perennial Vegetables.  We talk about food forest concepts and he breaks down some of his favorite perennial foods to grow & eat.    We also discuss his work with Mt Joy in Portland, Maine,  a free public orchard and food forest on the Eastern Promenade.  Throughout this conversation we discuss some of the challenges of perennial vegetables, the health benefits and the history of pre-Columbian Americas as some of the largest food forest/agro-forestry projects in human history.    

For more information on his work, or to buy some insane rare perennial plants from him check out his website or instagram. 

Building The "Commune," Veganism, Civilization & Anarcho-Homesteading

In this episode I took topics from patreon subscribers.  Originally this was going to be another "exclusive" episode but I had so much fun doing it I decided to release it.  

In this interview I talk about:

Spotify/ streaming servies & their impact on artists
New music plans
Plans for our farm & little fun facts about permaculture plants
Anarcho-Homesteading
"Desert" and "environmental nihilism"
Small communities vs mega societies
The Singularity Web Blog
Exodus from Denver
Political shifts after having a child
Veganism vs Animal Rights
Alienation

If you want to help sustain this work please consider becoming a patreon subscriber for as little as $1 a month.

The Secret History of Animal Resistance w/ Jason Hribal (re-air from 2014)

This is a re-air of one of my first and favorite interviews, its a conversation with Jason Hribal, the other of Fear Of An Animal Planet. Its a book that examines the history of animal resistance, in zoos, circuses and other exploitative situations humans put animals in. We talk about the relationship between the war on pagananism, the rise of calvanism and the loss of the commons and how thats effected animals. He also talks about how animals are part of the working class, and important agents in history that are capable of solidarity, empathy and of course... resistance. 

Solecast: w/ Nancy Monson on Radical Education & Child Psychology

In todays solecast I sit down with Nancy Munson from Running River School.  Nancy is my wife’s former boss and for years ran a radical nature based experiential school outside of Boulder.  This year Nancy closed Running River down and will be spending the next few years in New Mexico to reflect on what they have learned and where this approach to education needs to go next.   

In our interview we talk about how important play is as an aspect of learning, how getting kids in nature invigorates all their senses and how to promote agency in early childhood.  We talk about the impact of technology on developing minds and how vital feedback and incorporating the parents into the educational process is to healthy development. Nancy talks about how her life spent living in intentional communities has helped shape her philosophy about education, why running & regular exercise  is so important and how vital it is for parents to remain open and vulnerable to promote those same values in young people.  In this interview you will find tons of nuggets about child psychology and how children actually learn, as opposed to the military training they get in public education.  So whether you are a teacher, a parent or someone like me who didn’t pay any attention to this stuff till I actually had a kid… even us up-tight adults can gain something critical from Nancy’s approach.  

Reach out to Nancy through the Running River website

Solecast: Anarchist Movement Building With Its Going Down

Todays solecast is an in-depth discussion with an editor from Its Going Down.  

IGD just launched a new anarchist news podcast called “This is America,” which is meant to be a short, every-other-day digest of anarchist analysis and activity.  Check it out.

In this episode have a wide ranging discussion about what anarchist & anti-authoritarian resistance has looked like under Trump and potential paths for the future.  We talk about lessons learned from J20, Standing Rock, Prison Strikes, Airport Shutdowns and more.  We talk about the things anarchists have done with disaster relief, anti-fascism and pipeline blockades.  We discuss certain modes of resistance that people might be interested in replicating, whether its anarchist student groups, unions (like the Burgerville union) or The Black Rose Federation in LA helping to organize resistance against ICE Deportations.  We also talk a little about media & ideology.   

Solecast Audience Questions: On Theory, Gardening, Practical Organizing, Music Stuff & Anti-fascism.

On this episode I take questions from folks who subscribe through patron about a wide range of subjects. Everything from thoughts on Communization Theory, to anti-fascism to practical ways to engage in movement work.  Folks sent in great questions & had a blast making this.  

In this episode I talk a bit about the recent passing of my old friend & collaborator, Alias aka Brendon Whitney.  He leaves behind 2 young girls and his wife Jenn and every penny donated is greatly appreciated. If you want to donate to his memorial fund, you can do so here.  

If you want to support this podcast  through patreon please do so here.  

Solecast: Insights From The Implosion of The Tradionalist Workers Party w/ Chris of Unicorn Riot

An in-depth discussion w/ Chris of Unicorn Riot about what was uncovered in a treasure trove of internal communications on Discord servers that Unicorn Riot leaked.   The Unicorn Riot report details a year of the inner workers of one of the most visible & violent neo-nazi groups in the US.  

In this interview we talk about:

- The ways white supremacists/neo nazis organize and recruit
- Troubling discussions about white sharia, fondness for mass killers like Dylan Roof, and open discussions of violent acts.
- Members of the TWP openly collaborating with the Atomwaffen Division, a NEO Nazi group that openly promotes acts of "terror."
- How groups like TWP are using leftist rhetoric to appeal to the "white working class"
- TWP is a FEC recognized political party, and their legal support of William Planer, (a white supremacist who allegedly stabbed anti-fascists in Sacramento) possibly constitutes a legal breach.
- How the group was brought down by a strange love triangle
- Who these people are, what they believe and why people like them can not be ignored

Solecast w/ Cindy Milstein on Rebellious Mourning

Todays Solecast is with Cindy Milstein on her new book out on AK Press, Rebellious Mourning.  Cindy is a long time anarchist organizer, author and participant in the Institute For Anarchist Studies.  In our interview we discuss how mourning, empathy and grief can shape our revolutionary efforts, as we talk about various examples & pieces in her book.   Follow her on twitter, instagram and check out her website.  

Pick up Rebellious Mourning

More on Rebellious Mourning(On AK Press):

"We can bear almost anything when it is worked through collectively. Grief is generally thought of as something personal and insular, but when we publicly share loss and pain, we lessen the power of the forces that debilitate us, while at the same time building the humane social practices that alleviate suffering and improve quality of life for everyone. Addressing tragedies from Fukushima to Palestine, incarceration to eviction, AIDS crises to border crossings, and racism to rape, the intimate yet tenacious writing in this volume shows that mourning can pry open spaces of contestation and reconstruction, empathy and solidarity. With contributions from Claudia Rankine, Sarah Schulman, David Wojnarowicz, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, David Gilbert, and thirty-two others. Also includes a 32-page color insert featuring artists like Jet Chalk, Oree Originol, Melanie Cervantes and Jesus Barraza, and more.

Cindy Milstein is the author of Anarchism and Its Aspirations, co-author of Paths toward Utopia: Graphic Explorations of Everyday Anarchism, and editor of the anthology Taking Sides: Revolutionary Solidarity and the Poverty of Liberalism. "

Solecast: Efrim Manuel Manuck of Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Today's episode is with Efrim Manuel Manuck from Godspeed! You Black Emperor / Silver Mount Zion.  Efrim and his comrades have been making radical, innovative and genre defying music for over 2 decades, fusing post-rock, punk ethos and classical aesthetics.   Efrim’s new album Pissing Stars is out now on Constellation records.

In this interview we discuss:

• His new album Pissing Stars
• His relationship with anarchism and radical politics
• Thoughts on having a kid in these times
• What it means to maintain a career in music with a semblance of integrity
• How people in North America are lost people adrift on a stolen continent
• The trauma of the Bush years
• The influence of religious imagery and poetry in his work
• A story about their run in with the FBI and some fucked up cop in Oklahoma 

Solecast "Medicinal Herb Garden 101 w/ Stephanie Syson"

In this episode of Solecast I sit down with Stephanie Syson from Biodynamic Botanicals/ Colorado Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute. Stephanie is a permaculturist, educator, gardener, & herbalist.  She also hosts a show on Colorado Public Radio called "Living Permaculture." In this interview we talk about herbalism, plants, permaculture and all the basics you need to get started with planting & cultivating your own medicine garden. 

Also discussed:

Growing Avocados & tropical fruit in the Rockies w/ climate battery greenhouses
Herb Spirals (a permaculture design for planting perennial herbs)
Human evolution & our co-evolution with plants
Some comments on "invasive species” vs "native plants”

Plants Stephanie discusses & recommends :

Motherwort. 
Skullcap
Yarrow
Comfrey
Burdock
Oats
Elderberry
Astralgus
Marshmallow
Elecampagne
Dandelion
Nettle
Mint
Tulsi
Plantain
Calendula

Lemon Balm (Bonus)

(get these at Strictly Medicinal Seeds) 

Check out Stephanie's podcast "Living Permaculture" w/ Jerome Ostentowski

Learn more about Biodynamic Botannicals & The Colorado Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute