Spring Radio

One Front: The Struggle for a Free Palestine and Labour Organizing feat. Moe Alqasem

This month marks one year since Israel escalated its genocidal actions in Palestine. We sat down with Palestinian community organizer, Spring member, and trade unionist Moe Alqasem to reflect on the past year and what comes next. We also spoke with Taher Dahleh (a member of the Communication Workers of America and the Palestinian Youth Movement) and Frank Hammer (a former president of the United Auto Workers local 909) on the importance of unions in the fight for Palestinian liberation.
Join Spring for the Red October conference from October 18 to 20 in Toronto, Canada. There will be talks and discussion on Palestine, the role of unions in social justice, and much much more. Purchase tickets here (PWYC options available): https://www.tickettailor.com/events/springmagazine1/1357089 
You can follow Labour for Palestine on Instagram at @labourforpalestine and on Twitter @PalestineLabour. You can follow Frank Hammer on Twitter @detroitunionist and check out https://aflcio-int.education/ - a Labor Education Project on AFL-CIO International Operations. Lastly, you can follow the Palestinian Youth Movement on Instagram @palestinianyouthmovement and Twitter @palyouthmvmt.
This episode was produced in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.
It was produced by Ayan Tani, Spencer Bridgman, and Sarah Shahid. With original music by Benjamin Bilgen.
To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca. 

Political Prisoners are a Labour Issue feat. Dennise Velasco

Today’s episode is about Philippine labour organizing and political prisoners. We spoke with Migrante BC Secretary General, labour organizer, and former political prisoner Dennise Velasco about the ongoing union organizing in the Philippines as well as the situation for political prisoners such as Maoj Maga, and how these struggles connect to the labour movement, Indigenous self-determination, and other movements in so-called Canada.
Join Spring for a weekend of socialist ideas and strategy from October 18 to 20 in Toronto, Canada. Purchase Red October tickets here (PWYC options available): https://www.tickettailor.com/events/springmagazine1/1357089 
This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations including the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Coast Salish Nations.
It was produced by Kai Koski, Carlie Macfie, and Lina El Garawany, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen.
To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.
You can find the transcript for this episode here.

Mass Uprising in Bangladesh feat. Anu Muhammad

In this episode, Bangladeshi economist and public intellectual, Anu Mohammad, discusses the working class nature of the mass uprising in Bangladesh and where the country is headed after ousting an authoritarian government. 
In Spring’s annual Red October conference, we will be going deeper into the discussion around mass uprisings and revolution, along with other talks on state and elections, fighting the right-wing and fascism, and building workers’ power. Join Spring for a weekend of socialist ideas and strategy from October 18 to 20 in Toronto, Canada. Purchase Red October tickets here (PWYC options available): https://www.tickettailor.com/events/springmagazine1/1357089
This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Spencer Bridgman and Sarah Shahid, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. The song at the end of the interview is called Awaaz Utha by Bangladeshi rapper Hannan, who was arrested during the uprising but is now free. The song is available wherever you get your music.
To support more episodes like this, please consider contributing to Spring Magazine’s 2024 Fund Drive: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2024-fund-drive.

A Socialist Response to Pierre Poilievre Part 1: Justinflation feat. Pam Frache

This episode is the first installment in an ongoing series on the rhetoric of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, and his bid to become the next Prime Minister of Canada. Poilievre's catchy one liners and strong online presence have been working over drive to promote a broadly regressive, neo-liberal and populist agenda as an option for Canada. With the polling as it stands, it is clear we must be prepared for the very real possibility of a Pierre Poilievre led Conservative government in thenear future. But what can we as socialists do to counter his harmful messaging?
In this series, we will unpack Poilievre's many slogans and how to challenge them in conversations with those who may be swayed by messaging. Consider this your toolkit for the inevitably difficult conversations with loved ones, acquaintances and strangers as we approach the upcoming federal election. 
According to a poll released earlier this month, two of the top issues for voters in turning off support for the Liberal Party were cost of living increases and a lack of progress on inflation. Co-host Josh Frame sits down with Spring Member & Justice for Workers coordinator Pam Frache to talk about what is wrong with Poilievre's views on inflation and his solutions for making life more affordable for the working class. 
 
This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Carlie Macfie and Josh Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca. To support more episodes like this, please consider contributing to Spring Magazine's 2024 Fund Drive: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2024-fund-drive. 
 

Lessons from the Student Encampments for Palestine

The fight in the imperial core for a free Palestine has gained new momentum in the last couple months. This is due, in part, to the growing movement of pro-Palestinian student encampments demanding that their universities divest from the genocidal Israeli state.
In this episode, you’ll hear perspectives and insights from Ontario Tech University student Waddah, UCLA student and labour organizer Desmond, and OFL President Laura Walton.  This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. It was produced by Sarah Shahid, Ayan Tani, Spencer Bridgman, and Josh Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca. To support more episodes like this, please consider contributing to Spring Magazine's 2024 Fund Drive: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2024-fund-drive. 
You can find the transcript for this episode here.

Solidarity with the People of Sudan feat. Muzan Alneel

In this episode, Spring member Valerie Lannon sits down with Sudanese engineer and Marxist political activist Muzan Alneel to discuss the dire political and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Muzan walks us through the current political situation, resistance efforts on the ground, and the best way for international allies to express their solidarity.
 
This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.
 
It was produced by Valerie Lannon, Carlie Macfie and Sarah Shahid, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.
 
To support more episodes like this, please consider contributing to Spring Magazine's 2024 Fund Drive: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2024-fund-drive
 
You can find the transcript for this episode here.
 

A Socialist Analysis of Climate Change feat. Matthew Huber

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Matthew Huber, author of the excellent book: Climate Change as Class War. We discuss the causes and possible solutions to the climate crisis from a socialist perspective.
This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.
It was produced by Deena Newaz, Josh Frame, and Spencer Bridgman, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, go to SpringMag.ca.

Migrant Spring & the Fight for Status for All

Today’s episode is about the Migrant Spring: a campaign pushing for permanent resident status to all undocumented people in Canada. We spoke with Migrant Workers Alliance for Change organizer Sarom Rho about the campaign, why it is so necessary in this moment, and how it connects with the fight for a Free Palestine. 
To see if there’s a Migrant Spring action being held near you, go to migrantrights.ca/events/mar16/. 
This episode was produced on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.
It was produced by Samuel Tetelepta, Carlie Macfie, Spencer Bridgman, and me, Josh Frame. With original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, go to SpringMag.ca.
You can find a transcript for this episode here.

Lessons from the Quebec Common Front

In this episode we tune in to a condensed version of Spring's recent conversation with Benoit Renaud, a Quebec education worker and socialist, about lessons we can learn from the Quebec labour movement.
Listeners tuning in from outside of Quebec may be surprised to learn that more than half a million public sector workers went on strike in November and December. It was the largest strike in Quebec’s history and one of the largest in the history of Canada. The Common Front strategy in Quebec has a rich history in the province— and the coalition on strike this past fall was not only incredibly large, it was also successful in gaining both wage increases and improved working conditions for hundreds of thousands of public sector workers.
This episode was recorded on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.It was produced by Spencer Bridgman, Carlie Macfie, and Sarah Shahid, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen. To read and listen to more from Spring, and find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.
 
You can find the transcript for this episode here.

The Spirit of Revolution (Red October)

This episode is about the spirit and energy of a revolution. You’ll hear a talk from Spring members Deena Newaz and Peter Hogarth that was originally recorded on October 14, 2023 as part of Spring’s Red October conference.
The talk centres around the Russian revolution of 1917 and its impact not only on the Russian working class, but on people facing oppression at the hands of the ruling class around the world — from India to Peru, and from 1917 to today. 
This episode was recorded in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.
It was produced by Spencer Bridgman, Everett Kehew, and Joshua Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen.
You can find the transcript for this episode here.