Podding In The Pandemic

In these wild and crazy times of COVID-19 and late capitalism shitting its pants, I’ll be staying home and continuing to put out my little politics-focussed podcast, Like I’m A Six-Year-Old.

It’s a one-on-one conversation with people from across the political spectrum: activists, sitting politicians, journalists, artists and one week, my mum and dad. I try to make these conversations honest, helpful, “civil” (with swearing) and fun. I talk to people I admire and others I hate, but I always try to understand why folks believe what they believe and where they’re coming from.

Previous guests have included the likes of Waleed AlyLyle SheltonTanya PlibersekSam Newman, Alain de BottonYassmin Abdel-MagiedPauline Pantsdown, Adam BandtPeter Reith, Sally McManusWil AndersonFather Bob Maguire and many more.

I love making this show and I really believe that as we try to get through this crisis as a country and as a species, there are lots of vital and fascinating conversations to come about who we are and how we organise society. I’m committed to keep making the show for free and without any ads.

The show’s on iTunes, libsyn and Spotify.

If you’re in a position to do so, you can support the show via Patreon here. Any contribution at all is amazing and very kind of you.

You can join the show’s Facebook group here.

Honestly the best thing to do is just subscribe, review, enjoy (hopefully) and share the show as widely as you possibly can.

I’m always up from hearing from you too: you can email me on [email protected]

Thanks, stay safe and I look forward to being in your ears.

 

172 – Alex Bhathal

Alex Bhatal is a social worker and activist. From 2001 to 2018 she was a six-time Greens candidate for the inner-city seat of Cooper (formerly Batman) but in 2019, Alex quit the party having been subjected to a campaign of abuse and “relentless organisational bullying” for years.

Here Alex lays out for her me her journey into politics, her passion for refugee rights and social work, why the Tampa incident inspired her to join the Greens and her experience of running in the same seat for 17 years.

I also ask Alex to explain exactly what happened between her and the Darebin branch of the Greens, how bad it got for her and what it tells us about the state of the party today. Alex is extremely frank and honest talking to me about what was clearly a painful time in her life and for that I’m very grateful.

I’m doing LIASYO live at the 2020 Melbourne Comedy Festival with special guest ANDREW FREAKING DENTON. Tickets are on sale now!

My show ENOUGH is on now the 2020 Adelaide Fringe, tickets available here

My new show GRANDILOQUENT is coming to the 2020 Brisbane Comedy Festival and the 2020 Melbourne International Comedy Festival

GRANDILOQUENT is coming to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, it’s on sale now 

Join the LIASYO Facebook group here please and thank you

If you’ve got the means please support this show by becoming a Patron

@alexbhathal

alexbhathal.com

ARTICLE: Alex Bhathal and discord in the Greens by Martin McKenzie-Murray

ARTICLE: Batman: How it went wrong for the Greens by Martin McKenzie-Murray

Alex’s statement on why she resigned from the Greens

From solidarity.net.au: Alex Bhathal resigns – the latest victim of Greens’ drift right

Cause of the Week: Refugee Legal (refugeelegal.org.au)

Direct download          iTunes          libsyn

162 – Adam Bandt Returns (LIVE)

After joining me at the end of the shitshow that was 2016 for the first live edition of the podcast, Greens MP Adam Bandt returned to reflect on how far we have (or haven’t) come and what to make of the political year that was 2019.

Recorded in Collingwood at the Easey Street Concert Hall in front of a bloody lovely crowd, this is a funny and important conversation about Scott Morrison, socialism, the climate crisis, the 2019 election, the ALP’s pathetic position on coal and the possibilities of a Green New Deal for Australia.

All funds raised went to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (you can support them here toooooo). I’m very thankful to Adam for agreeing to do this again and to everyone who came out to the show. MERRY CHRISTMAS xoxoxo

I’m bringing my show ENOUGH to the 2020 Adelaide Fringe in March, tickets on sale now

My new show GRANDILOQUENT is coming to the 2020 Brisbane Comedy Festival and the 2020 Melbourne International Comedy Festival

JOIN THE BRAND NEW LIKE I’M A SIX-YEAR-OLD GROUP ON FACEBOOK! WOW! 

If you’ve got the means please support this show by becoming a Patron

@AdamBandt

adambandt.com

ARTICLE: Setting Kevin Rudd’s Environment Record Straight by Adam Bandt

ARTICLE: This is what it looks like when your government sells out the climate for votes by Katharine Murphy

ARTICLE: The crisis in liberalism: why centrist politics can no longer explain the world by Katrina Forrester

Direct download          iTunes          libsyn

152 – Aditi Mittal

CONTENT WARNING: This episode involves discussion of sexual assault

Aditi Mittal is a stand up comedian with a massive following in her native India. She’s outspoken and hilarious about her politics and the plight of women under patriarchy.

In this conversation Aditi tells me why for her “breathing is a political act”, the repression in Indian society, how the caste system works, the country’s recent rightward shift under the leadership of Narendra Modi and what it’s like to live in a country of MORE THAN ONE BILLION PEOPLE.

MAKE SURE YOU STRIKE FOR THE CLIMATE ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20TH >> globalclimatestrike.net

If you’ve got the means please support this show by becoming a Patron

Check out my new podcast with Audible, What’s the Story?

And email me! I’m on [email protected]

@awryaditi

aditimittal.com

ARTICLE: Five years after the gang-rape and murder of Jyoti Singh, what has changed for women in India? 

ARTICLE: Hindutva on the March

Cause of the Week: Good Samaritans Mumbai (samaritansmumbai.com)

Direct download          iTunes          libsyn