I’m an anarchist living in a conservative area. I work as a union organizer for a mainstream union and travel constantly. To maintain a sense of community, especially given how few anarchists I personally run into, one of the places I turn is the world of podcasting. Here are my four favorites. Whether you’re an anarchist or just want to hear views that aren’t covered in the mainstream media, these are all worth checking out.
It’s Going Down is a podcast and a robust website. I’ll let them describe themselves: “It’s Going Down is a digital community center from anarchist, anti-fascist, autonomous anti-capitalist and anti-colonial movements. Our mission is to provide a resilient platform to publicize and promote revolutionary theory and action.” Looking for a place to start? I found the audio documentary on San Diego’s Chicano Park very inspiring. Make sure you stay till the song at the end.
The Final Straw is a weekly radio show produced in Asheville, NC, but covering a range of primarily national and international topics. Each episode is available as a podcast. The interviews are always smart and engaging. I also enjoy the weekly audio column by anarchist prisoner Sean Swain. Looking for a place to start? I enjoyed their recent interview about mutual aid in Puerto Rico.
The Ex-Worker was the first anarchist podcast I listened to. It’s always passionate and well-informed, and often focuses on big-picture ideas that help me as I continue to shape my thoughts on my own approach to anarchism. The Ex-Worker is produced by the folks at CrimethInc., who also put out books, pamphlets, posters, stickers, and a very rich and useful website. Looking for a place to start? Check out their three-part review (1, 2, 3) of 2017. You won’t believe how much stuff happened that you never heard about.
You’ll notice that The Hotwire has a very similar logo to The Ex-Worker, and that’s not a coincidence. It’s also produced my CrimethInc. Unlike its older sibling, The Hotwire is primarily an anarchist news podcast. It features a round-up of news from around the world with an anarchist bent, and also helps you take action with detailed show notes. Looking for a place to start? Try the most recent episode.
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